Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Bench Corner Stop lines up out of Singleback Doubles Y Off Close with the TE attached in-line on the closed side. To the closed side, the TE runs a corner route up the seam while the outside receiver runs a bench (out) route breaking hard to the sideline, creating a natural high low on any flat defender or corner playing outside leverage. On the open side, the backside receivers run a deep cross and a comeback off the same stem, giving you a built in outlet if the defense rolls coverage away from the corner route. This is a man beater against off coverage and a zone beater against Cover 3 since the corner route stretches the deep third while the bench route sits underneath any curl to flat defender, with the RB staying in to check release and protect on a five man protection.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the corner on the closed side is playing press or off man, since press leaves him vulnerable to the corner route beating him over the top with no safety help. Check safety depth and shell alignment: a single high safety cheating to the closed side signals Cover 3 or Cover 1, which means the bench route becomes the higher percentage throw since the corner is bracketed. Watch the flat defender or curl to flat linebacker post-snap, since a shallow zone drop opens a throwing lane for the bench route but a wide flat drop can jump the route and create a user pick six opportunity. Look for corner blitz or nano blitz packages off the closed side edge, since the five man protection can be exposed if the RB does not check release quickly enough. Against Cover 2 shells, the corner route runs into the deep half safety, so bail out to the backside comeback or crossing route on the open side as your checkdown against a two high shell.
Usage Tips
Use this on second and medium to second and long when you want a quick access throw with a shot route attached. Pre-snap, check the corner alignment on the closed side. If the corner is playing outside shade with no safety help over the top, throw the corner route immediately off the snap for a explosive gain. If you see two high safeties or Cover 4, work the bench route as your first read since the corner will be capped. Hot route the backside comeback into a quick slant if you are facing man coverage with no free safety help, since that gives you a rhythm throw versus a blitz look. Pair this play with Switch X Comeback or PA Deep Out from the same set so the defense has to respect both the corner shot and the underneath option routes, keeping linebackers honest on their zone drops. Against known blitz teams, use the RB check release to scan for the nano blitz before committing to your deep read on the corner.
