Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Flanker Drive out of Singleback Doubles Flex sends the backside receiver on a deep dig that cuts across the middle while the inline tight end runs a vertical seam up the opposite hash, creating a natural high low read against zone drops. The flanker to the trips side runs a drive route underneath, crossing the field from the slot area toward the opposite flat while the outside receiver on that side runs a short out to the sideline, giving a layered man beater combo at the second level. Protection is a standard five man slide, so this is a straight dropback pass with no play action or RPO element, and the primary read progression starts with the dig route working from the far hash back to the drive route crossing underneath before checking down to the flat.
Defensive Reads
Read the free safety pre-snap, if he is sitting in the deep middle of a single high shell, expect him to jump the dig route once the quarterback's eyes commit. Watch the middle linebacker depth at the snap, a shallow drop from him signals a Tampa 2 look that can undercut the drive route before it crosses the field. If the corner over the flanker is playing tight man with no help underneath, this concept exploits that leverage with the drive route working away from his hips. Cover 3 with a hard buzz from the strong safety is the biggest threat, since that defender can sit on the drive route and bait the quarterback into an interception. Look for a user controlled linebacker spying the middle of the field, if he stays home instead of rushing, he can jump both the dig and drive routes in the same window.
Usage Tips
Use this against off man or two high shells where the dig route has room to sit down before the safety can rotate over the top.
Pre-snap, check the middle linebacker depth because the drive route is designed to work underneath a Tampa 2 or Cover 4 backer if he bites on the vertical seam route.
Hot route the flat route to a corner or texas route if you see a nickel corner sitting in the shallow flat zone, that clears space for the drive route to settle in.
Best called on second and medium or third and medium since the dig and drive routes both need a few beats to develop and the sideline out is there as an emergency check down.
Pair this with Curl Flats or Slot Cross from the same set to keep the defense guessing between deep dig reads and quicker underneath combos, then mix in Four Verticals once the defense starts sitting on the drive route.
