Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Bench Corner is a five-man empty progression built off the Trey Stack look, attacking the field with a corner route from the outside receiver on the trey side while the two inside slot defenders run a bench (pivot out) and a deep dig-style crosser underneath. On the backside single receiver, a deep corner breaks toward the opposite sideline off a quick stem, giving you a two-level clearout on the boundary while the trey side occupies the middle and flat. There is no run blocking shown since this is an empty formation, and the concept reads as a man beater first thanks to the double corner routes creating natural separation against trailing defenders, with zone beater properties versus soft cover shells because of the bench route sitting down in the void. Primary progression starts with the backside corner route, works to the trey side corner as the second read, and settles on the underneath bench/crosser combo as the checkdown against tight coverage.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and leverage, a two high shell with safeties rotated to the trey side signals the backside corner route is your best shot at a big play against single coverage. Watch the cornerback alignment on the backside receiver, if he is playing outside leverage with no safety rotation over the top, throw the corner route with anticipation before he can flip his hips. Post-snap, key the flat and hook zone defenders on the trey side, a linebacker or nickel sinking too deep opens the underneath bench route for a easy pitch and catch. This play struggles against a two deep shell that keeps both safeties over the top of the corner routes, since it removes the explosive play potential and forces you into the shorter underneath options. Beware disguised blitzes off the edge, since empty formations leave no extra protection, if the defense shows pressure with a nickel or linebacker crashing off the trey side you need to get the ball out on the quick bench route immediately.
Usage Tips
Use this from empty personnel on third and medium to third and long when you need a designed high low stretch on the boundary corner. Pre-snap, identify if the defense shows two high safeties or a single high shell, since single high leaves the backside corner route isolated on the cornerback with no safety help over the top. If the defense shows man coverage across the board, hot route the trey side flat runner into a quick out to speed up your first read and protect against a delayed blitz. Pair this play with Y Stick or Curl Flat Salem earlier in a series so the defense respects the short game, then hit them with the double corner shot when they start jumping underneath routes. Against zone heavy opponents, key the flat defender on the trey side, if he sinks with the bench route the underneath crosser will sit in the open window for an easy completion.
