Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Flanker Drive out of Weak I's H Close Off set lines up in 21 personnel with a classic drive concept on the backside. The Y receiver runs a deep dig that crosses the field at intermediate depth while the flanker underneath runs a shallow drive route heading the opposite direction, creating a natural rub and picking off man defenders. The X receiver on the closed side pushes vertical up the seam to hold the safety, and the fullback releases into the flat as a checkdown option with a curl/flat read on the backside. This is a man beater built on the crossing traffic between the dig and drive routes, and the primary read progression starts with the deep dig, works down to the underneath drive route if the linebackers sink, and finishes with the flat route or vertical as a last resort.
Defensive Reads
Watch the underneath linebackers at the snap, since if they sink hard into the dig's path they can undercut the throw and jump the route for a pick six opportunity. Man coverage defenders who fight through the rub at the crossing point will take away both the dig and drive routes, so look for a defense that trails receivers tightly through traffic. Zone defenses with deep half safeties can shut down the vertical route from the X, forcing the quarterback to hold the ball longer and check down to the flat. Blitz-heavy fronts that send extra rushers off the edge will test the fullback's ability to pick up the flat responsibility, so a delayed blitz timed to the fullback's release can force a quick, low percentage throw. Cover 4 shells that roll a corner down into the drive route's landing spot can jump the underneath throw if the quarterback stares down the primary read too long.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, check if the corner over the flanker is playing tight man or sitting off in zone, since the drive route underneath only works if there is traffic to rub off man coverage. If you see Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells with deep zone drops, lean on the vertical route from the X to stress the safety before working back to the dig. Hot route the fullback to a quick flat or check him into a block if you are facing a heavy blitz look, since he is your last line of protection help. Use this play on second and medium to second and long situations where the defense expects a longer developing route and may sit back in zone coverage. Pair Flanker Drive with Verticals or PA Power O from this same set so defenders cannot key on the crossing traffic every snap, forcing them to respect both the vertical shots and the underneath drive concept.
