Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Flanker Drive out of Singleback Bunch aligns three receivers tight to one side with a lone receiver isolated backside on a vertical release up the numbers. From the bunch, one receiver runs a deep in breaking across the field, another runs a drive route working underneath through the middle at a shallow depth, and the third bunch receiver releases outward before working back to the flat as a checkdown option. This is a man beater built off the natural rub created by the bunch alignment, with the drive route sitting down in soft spots against man coverage while the deep crosser stretches zone defenders horizontally. The primary read starts with the drive route working across the middle, then progresses to the deep in route if the shallow window is taken away, using the backside vertical and flat route as outlet options based on leverage.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the cornerback over the bunch is playing tight man technique, since the rub release will beat trail coverage almost immediately on the drive route. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if the middle linebacker sinks too fast into a deep zone drop it opens a large throwing window for the drive route working underneath. Post-snap, user a lurk defender in the shallow middle zone to sit on the drive route, this is the primary way to bait the quarterback into a turnover on this concept. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender squeezing the underneath route can disrupt the timing of the drive route, forcing the quarterback to progress to the deep in breaker. Man coverage with an inside linebacker spying or blitzing off the bunch side can disrupt the rub release, cutting off the drive route before it develops and forcing a quick checkdown to the flat.
Usage Tips
Look for man coverage indicators like tight cornerback alignment on the bunch before the snap, since the natural rub from the bunch release creates immediate separation for the drive route against man defenders.
If you see two deep safeties in a shell, key the deep in breaking route since it will find a soft window between the underneath zone defenders and the deep half safety.
Hot route the flat receiver to a quick out if you diagnose a blitz, giving your quarterback a fast release valve against pressure without needing a deep progression.
Pair this play with Spot Dig or Z Spot from the same set to keep the defense guessing between shallow crossing concepts and traditional spot concepts, forcing linebackers to hesitate on their zone drops.
Best used on second or third and medium situations where the drive route can pick up the sticks quickly against off coverage or zone shells that give a cushion underneath.
