Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Seam Option out of Singleback Spread 10 personnel shows a five man route concept with no run action, a straight drop back pass. Both outside receivers run vertical seams up the numbers, the slot receiver runs a seam option route that reads the underneath linebacker or nickel and breaks either up the field or settles for a sit route, the running back runs an outlet route to the flat, and the backside receiver runs a deep drag across the formation from the opposite side of the field. This is a zone beater built to attack the intermediate middle of the field with the option route settling into soft spots, and the primary read progression starts with the seam option route, works to the two vertical seams, then checks down to the backside drag and the running back in the flat.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and leverage over the slot receiver, if the safety is shaded inside the option route the outside seam usually opens up. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if the middle linebacker or nickel sinks into a deep zone drop instead of stepping to the option route, throw the seam behind him for a big gain. Cover 3 with a hard flat corner takes away the running back outlet, so lean on the option route and backside drag as your answers against that shell. User controlled defenders sitting in the middle hook zone are the biggest threat to the option route, if you see a user lurking there, work the seams or the drag instead. Man coverage with no safety help over the slot gets exposed by the option route settling in the void, but disciplined man corners running with the seam receivers can shut down the outside verticals entirely.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing two high safeties or single high, this play thrives against two high shells because the seams and option route can split the honeycomb between the safety and linebacker drops.
Use the option route as your hot read versus any pressure look, the slot receiver settles quickly against blitzes and gives your quarterback a quick outlet before the pocket collapses.
Hot route the backside drag into a deeper dig or corner route if you diagnose Cover 3 sky, this stretches the zone defender horizontally and creates a bigger throwing window.
Pair this play with Four Verticals and PA HB Out from the same set to keep defenders guessing between vertical shots and option based reads, the similar initial release keeps linebackers from jumping the option route.
Best used on second and medium to second and long, the option route and drag give you a high percentage completion while the seams stay alive as chunk play answers.
