Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
WR Drive out of Singleback Wing (12 personnel) is a Cover 4 beater built around a deep crosser and a shallow drive route working underneath it. The backside receiver runs a deep post/corner breaking route up top, the inside receiver runs the drive route crossing the field at intermediate depth, and the flanker runs a flat/wheel combo to the boundary while another route sits underneath as a checkdown outlet. Blocking is a standard pass protection look with no extra pulling linemen shown, so this is a straight dropback pass play designed to attack quarters and split-safety shells by stretching the field horizontally, with the primary read progressing from the deep crossing drive route to the flat/wheel combo on the strong side.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing two deep safeties, this indicates zone coverage where the drive route will find the soft spot between levels. Key the flat defender to the strong side, if he widens with the flat/wheel route it opens a throwing lane for the drive route crossing behind him. Watch for a user-controlled linebacker sitting in the middle of the field, this is the primary threat that can jump the drive route and force you to the deep corner or checkdown. Against Cover 3, look for the deep post/corner route to hold the single high safety, which should clear space for the drive route to work underneath. If the defense shows man coverage with a deep safety rotating over the top, expect the drive route to be tightly covered and prioritize the flat route or checkdown instead.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs against Cover 4 or Cover 2 shells where safeties are aligned deep and cheating toward the numbers, since the drive route settles into the void between the flat defender and the deep half safety.
Pre-snap, check for two high safeties with corners playing off, that alignment tells you the drive concept will have room to work against zone drops rather than tight man coverage.
Hot route the shallow underneath route into a quick option or slant if you see man coverage with no safety help over the top, since the drive route can get clogged by a linebacker sitting in the throwing lane.
Pair this play with Close PA Sail or PA Boot Lt in your call sequence so the defense has to respect play action out of the same personnel grouping, opening up the drive route once safeties start biting on run fakes.
Best used on second and medium to third and short situations where you want a high percentage completion underneath while keeping the deep corner route as a shot play if the corner jumps the drive route.
