Playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn Bunch Whip Smash aligns out of a bunch look to the left with a single receiver split to the right. Pre snap motion sends a bunch receiver in a whip action across the formation before the snap, and at the snap the bunch releases into a deep corner route, a whip crossing route underneath, and a shallow drag, while the single receiver runs a hitch and the backside X runs a corner route off the bunch stack. The tight end or attached blocker stays in to protect while the running back checks release protection, making this a half slide pass concept designed to attack Cover 2 with the smash combo on the boundary and the whip crosser working the middle void. Primary read starts with the corner route on the smash side against the deep half safety, then works down to the whip crosser sitting underneath zone defenders, with the flat route as the last resort checkdown.
Defensive Reads
Watch the deep half safeties before the snap, if they are showing a Cover 2 shell with two safeties deep the smash corner route will have a clear throwing lane in the seam. Key the flow of the underneath linebackers after the snap, if they widen out to cover the whip crosser it opens the drag route working behind them. If the defense shows man coverage with the corner following the whip motion man to man, expect the receiver to win quickly on the crossing route due to natural rub leverage from the bunch. Be alert for a user controlled defender sitting in the shallow middle zone since he can jump the whip route and create a turnover if the quarterback stares it down. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge can be neutralized since the running back and tight end are responsible for identifying and picking up the extra rusher, so watch for late blitzers crashing off that edge.
Usage Tips
Use the pre snap motion to identify if the defense is playing man or zone, if the motion defender follows across the formation you are facing man coverage and should key the whip route as a natural man beater. Against Cover 2 shells, prioritize the smash corner route since it attacks the deep half safety before he can rotate over the top. Hot route the single receiver hitch into a fade if you see single high safety looks to create an immediate vertical threat outside. This play pairs well with Mtn Bunch Drive and Mtn Bunch Cross Dig since both rely on the same bunch alignment but attack different levels, keeping defenders guessing on which route will break open. Best called on second and medium to long or third and short when the defense is likely sitting in zone shells expecting a shorter concept.
