Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Close Corner runs out of Shotgun Split Close with 20 personnel, showing a three-level stretch to the right side of the field. The outside receiver runs a deep corner route stemming toward the sideline as the number one read, while the slot defender releases on an inside angle route working the flat and eventually crossing underneath into the void vacated by the corner. On the backside, both receivers run deep crossing routes that drag across the formation, giving a full field stretch off play action or straight drop back protection. This is a zone beater designed to attack cover 3 and cover 4 shells by putting a defender in conflict between the flat route and the corner route, with the primary read progression going corner to backside crosser to the underneath flat route.
Defensive Reads
Cover 3 defenses struggle with this concept because the flat defender has to choose between the underneath route and the corner route, creating a natural window for the corner throw. Cover 4 shells can be attacked if the outside cornerback bails too early since the corner route will stem behind him before he can recover. Watch for a robber or lurk defender sitting in the middle of the field who can jump the backside crossers, especially in match zone coverages. Man coverage with no help over the top gets exposed by the corner route if the cornerback has to respect any vertical stem from the receiver. Blitz packages that pull the flat defender into a rush lane open up an easy pitch and catch to the underneath route, so key on linebacker depth at the snap to see if that lane is vacated.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the corner to your throwing side is playing off man or sitting in a deep third, since the corner route only wins if that defender has to respect the flat threat underneath. Use motion or a quick glance to bait the flat defender before ripping the corner route on time. This play pairs well with Close HB Wheel and Close X Drag in the same set since both attack the same side flat and can be called back to back to keep defenders guessing on leverage. Best used on second and medium to second and long where defenses are more likely to sit in zone shells rather than bring pressure. If the safety rotates hard to the corner route pre-snap, check down quickly to the backside crosser since that route will be open against single high rotation. Avoid calling this against heavy blitz looks unless you have hot routed the backside crosser into a quick option since the deep routes take time to develop.
