Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Switch WR Drag is a five-man route concept out of Shotgun Tight Y Off with 11 personnel that stresses the field horizontally while pushing one vertical shot up the seam. The backside receiver runs a deep crossing route while the outside receiver on that side breaks off a corner route from the numbers, and on the play side the tight end releases on a deep post while the slot runs a drag underneath and the running back checks out to a flat route. This is primarily a man beater that uses the drag and flat combo to pick off trailing defenders while the deep crosser and post stretch the field for explosive plays against man coverage, with the primary read starting on the deep crossing route before working down to the drag and flat as underneath outlets.
Defensive Reads
Look for single high safety shells pre-snap, since that indicates man coverage underneath and the deep crosser will have room to work against trailing defenders. Watch cornerback alignment on the backside, if you see press man with no help over the top, the deep crosser and corner route combo can create natural separation. Post-snap, key on the middle linebacker's drop, if he sits in a shallow zone or spies the quarterback, the drag route will be taken away and you need to progress to the flat or post. User-controlled lurk defenders sitting in the shallow zone can jump the drag route, so if you see a defender sinking into that throwing lane, look to the deep crosser or corner instead. Cover 3 zone with a deep third safety can be a problem for the deep post, so if you see three deep defenders post-snap, prioritize the drag and flat combo underneath rather than forcing the ball deep.
Usage Tips
Use this against man coverage looks where you see press corners or a single high safety, since the deep crosser is designed to rub off trailing defenders in man match schemes. Pre-snap, identify if the linebackers are showing blitz or sitting in short zones, because the drag route becomes your quick answer if you see pressure coming off the edge. Hot route the flat route to a quick out or speed out against teams that clog the underneath passing lanes with zone drops. On third and medium situations, this play is excellent because the drag and flat combo gives you a high percentage completion while the deep crosser keeps safeties honest. Pair this with RPO Peek Slant or RPO Alert Bubble from the same set to keep defenses guessing between quick game and this deeper drag concept, forcing linebackers to respect both the run action and the crossing routes.
