Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Flanker Drag out of Singleback Doubles 11 personnel shows a two man route combo to the boundary with the outside receiver clearing vertically upfield and the inside slot receiver running the namesake drag across the formation underneath. On the strong side the TE runs a flat route while the HB releases out of the backfield on a shallow angle route that crosses under the drag, creating a natural high low stretch on any underneath defender. This is a man beater at its core, since the crossing drag and angle route generate immediate separation against man leverage, and the deep clear out route occupies any deep defender or safety who might rob the drag. Primary read progression starts with the HB angle route in the flat, moves to the drag crossing behind it, and works back to the clear out route if a linebacker gets caught in a pick or a corner blitz opens up the deep boundary throw.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if the middle and weak side linebackers are shallow they can undercut the drag route and jump the throwing lane. Identify single high safety shells like Cover 3, since the deep clear out route can hold the free safety and open a throwing window for the drag underneath. Key the slot cornerback's leverage before the snap, inside leverage suggests he is banking on help over the top, which tells you the drag has room to work against outside leverage instead. Look for a user controlled linebacker sitting in the shallow crossing lane, a common lurk technique that can jump the drag route if the quarterback stares it down too long. Cover 2 shells with hard corner flats can squeeze the HB angle route, so be ready to progress quickly to the drag or the clear out route rather than forcing the checkdown.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs or third and short since the drag and angle route combo gives you a high percentage completion underneath before the defense can react.
Check pre-snap for man coverage by looking at defender alignment on the slot receiver, if he is shaded inside or outside with no help over the top, expect the drag to break open quickly.
Hot route the TE flat to a quick out if you see a corner blitz off the edge to give yourself a fast outlet away from pressure.
Pair this play with Flanker Dig or Flanker Drive in the same set so the defense has to respect both a horizontal crossing concept and a vertical breaking route, making it harder for a defensive coordinator to sit on the drag.
Against zone coverage look to throw the drag on rhythm before linebackers can sink into their zone drops, since the route is designed to sit in the soft spot behind the defensive line.
