Playbooks
Flood is a three-level Cover 3 beater run out of the Flexbone Normal set, using the option personnel to disguise a vertical passing concept off run action tendencies. The route combo stacks a deep route, an intermediate out or corner, and a flat route all to the same side of the field, overloading one cornerback and the flat defender while stretching the deep third safety. The primary read progression works high to low: check the deep shot first, then work down to the intermediate breaking route, and finally the flat as the checkdown against a hard-squeezing zone.
Key the deep third safety pre-snap: if he is shaded toward the flood side already, the defense may be sitting on this concept, so consider audibling to PA FB Dive or PA HB Dive instead. Watch the flat defender post-snap since Cover 3 sky or cloud coverage will squeeze the flat and open a window on the intermediate out or corner route behind it. If you see two deep safeties pre-snap, expect Cover 2 or Cover 4, which forces you to fit the ball into tighter windows underneath rather than taking the deep shot. Look for a user-controlled defender sprinting toward the flood side immediately after the snap, which signals a lurk or spy trying to jump the intermediate route, and counter by resetting to the backside hot route. Man coverage with press corners shuts this down quickly if the offensive line can't hold up, so check the box count and linebacker depth to confirm zone before committing to the full read progression.
Call Flood on early downs when you want a play-action feel off your Flexbone run game since the Midline Triple, Inside Veer Triple Opt, and FB Dive tendencies keep the linebackers honest against the flood route concept. Identify the coverage shell pre-snap by checking safety depth: single high safety usually means Cover 3 and this play is built to beat that shell. Hot route the backside receiver into a quick slant or drag if the defense shows Cover 1 man so you have a rhythm throw away from the flood side. Sequence this play after a few reps of Wb Dive or Fk FB Toss Boot Rt so the defense bites on run action, opening throwing lanes for the corner and deep routes. Use this on second and medium or third and long when you need a chunk play, since the flood concept forces a conflicted defender no matter the leverage.