Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Bench Switch is a horizontal stretch concept out of Shotgun Tight 11 personnel that sends both outside receivers on deep in routes (bench routes) that break flat toward the sideline, while the two inside receivers release vertically up the seams before working outward, with one wide receiver breaking off the seam into a deep corner on the left side. This is a zone beater designed to stretch the underneath flat zones and hi-lo the outside linebackers or slot defenders in Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells. The primary read progression starts with the flat/bench routes to the boundary, then works to the switch release seams if the flat is taken away by an underneath defender sitting the throwing lane.
Defensive Reads
Pre snap, identify whether the cornerbacks are aligned in off man or zone leverage, since tight press alignment signals man coverage that can jump the bench routes. Watch the safety depth before the snap, two deep safeties usually mean the flat routes will be open against zone drops, while a single high safety means the corner route behind the switch release is the bigger threat. Post snap, key the flat defender or outside linebacker responsible for the bench route zone, if he sinks too deep the underneath switch release becomes the answer. Look for a user lurk defender sitting in the passing lane between the seam and the sideline, since that is the primary threat that can jump the intermediate throw. If the defense brings a nano blitz off the edge, get the ball out quickly to the switch release or check down before the protection collapses.
Usage Tips
Check the safety alignment before the snap, this play is most effective against two high safety shells and off man coverage where the corners are not jamming the switch release at the line.
Use the outside bench routes as your first read on third and short or in the red zone since they settle in soft spots against zone drops.
If the defense shows Cover 3 with a single high safety, key on the flat defender running with the switch release and throw the corner route behind him before he can recover.
Pair this play with Bench and Bench Spray in the same set to keep the defense guessing on which receiver the ball is going to, since the route stems look similar out of the same personnel and formation.
Avoid calling this against heavy man press coverage unless you hot route the switch release into a quick out to beat the jam.
