Flanker Close

Shotgun Flanker Close is a 10 personnel set (one running back, zero tight ends, four wide receivers) that condenses the flanker into a tight split near the formation instead of stretching him to the numbers. Standard spread looks in Shotgun spread all four receivers wide. Flanker Close compresses one side, giving the Z a two-way go off the line and a natural rub angle with the adjacent slot. That tight alignment is what powers the RNS Switch family (RNS Switch Curl, RNS Switch Curl Flat, RNS Switch Dig), where the inside and outside receivers cross at the snap and force defenders to communicate or get picked.

Because there is no tight end, the defense has to match four receivers with nickel or dime personnel. That lets your slot and close flanker attack linebackers and safeties in space. The condensed split also removes the sideline as a defender's help, so a Z with high Release and Route Running can win inside or outside against press. Concepts like Mesh Spot, Stick, Y Cross, and Z Spot give you layered horizontal reads, and Dragon Spacing and Bench attack flat and sideline leverage when defenders cheat inside toward the tight Z.

The set also gives you a legitimate run threat out of four wide. Inside Zone, HB Counter, and HB Sweep punish light boxes when defenses sub in extra DBs, and PA Curl Drag uses that run action to pull linebackers before hitting the void behind them. A Power HB tag for downhill runs, a 3DRB tag for check downs and flats, and SLWR and Gadget tags on the slot and close flanker make it one of the more balanced 10 personnel sets for both matchup hunting and pace control.