Football Library · Plays
Drive· 7v7 Flag
intermediateaka Drive Concept
Two crossers attacking the middle at differentiated depths — Drag UNDER (2-4 yds) and Dig OVER (10-14 yds). The under-drag rubs through traffic; the dig settles in the void behind the LBs. Beats man (rub on releases) and zone (dig sits in the hole). Often paired with a backside clear.
Coaching breakdown
Drive: H under-drag @ 3yd + X dig @ 12yd over the top — two crossers attacking the middle at differentiated depths. Z deep clear, B checkdown.
When to call it
Excellent answer to Cover 1 — the drag eats horizontal space, the dig above stretches the LB level. Reliable 2nd-and-medium call when you need a chunk play but not a shot.
Common mistakes
- Drag depth wrong — should be at 2-4 yards, not 5+ (that becomes a shallow cross, different concept).
- Dig too shallow; should be at 12 yards minimum to stretch the second-level defenders.
- Both crossers go the same direction; should be opposing for the rub effect at the cross.
Strong / weak against
Strong against
- Cover 1 — Crossers and mesh — natural rubs spring a man defender
Contested
- Cover 0 — Anything that develops slowly — pressure gets home first Better answers: Four Verticals, Mesh, Slant-Flat, Smash
- Cover 2 — The flats — the corner squats and jumps anything quick outside Better answers: Smash, Four Verticals, Flood
- Tampa 2 — The deep middle — the Mike runs it, so a straight seam is contested (unlike base Cover 2) Better answers: Smash, Flood
- Cover 3 — Deep outside — the three-deep shell caps outside verticals Better answers: Curl-Flat, Slant-Flat, Smash, Flood, Four Verticals, Snag, Dagger, Stick
- Cover 4 — Deep shots — four deep defenders make it very hard to win over the top Better answers: Stick, Snag, Slant-Flat, Curl-Flat, Mesh