Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 12 playbooks
Breakdown
SFT Mtn PA Flood runs a classic three level flood concept off play action out of I Form Y Off Close with 21 personnel. Pre-snap motion shifts a receiver across the formation before the play action fake, and post-snap the diagram shows a deep corner route stretching the sideline, a deep crossing route working from the opposite side of the field into the same third, and an underneath flat/drag route settling near the line of scrimmage, creating a high low read on one side of the field. This is a play action flood designed to attack Cover 3 and other zone shells by overloading one third with three separate levels, forcing the flat defender and deep third defender to choose who to cover. The primary read progression starts with the deep corner route, works down to the deep crosser settling in the same area, and finishes with the underneath flat route as the checkdown against a hard close by the flat defender.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check the deep safety alignment, a single high safety with two deep corners playing off is a strong indicator of Cover 3 which this flood concept is built to exploit. Watch the flat defender and outside linebacker depth before the snap, if they are sitting shallow and aligned to jump underneath routes they can undercut the flat throw and bait a turnover. Post-snap, key the deep third defender's reaction to the corner route, if he stays home on the sideline that opens the crossing route settling behind him for an easy completion. User controlled defenders playing a deep lurk or sinking into the flood zone can rob the crosser, so if you see a defender flashing into that lane switch your read to the underneath flat route immediately. This play struggles against disciplined Cover 4 or Cover 2 shells with two deep safeties splitting the field, since the extra deep defender can help bracket the corner route and shut down the top of the flood.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense is playing man or zone, if a defender follows the motion man across the formation that confirms man coverage and you should look to attack the underneath route or crosser for a quick throw. Against Cover 3 or Cover 4 zone shells, trust the flood concept and read high to low starting with the deep corner route since the deep third defender cannot cover both the corner and the crosser. Sell the play action fake fully before your first read to hold the linebackers and prevent an early break on the underneath flat route. This play works best on early downs or second and medium situations where defenses are more likely to sit in zone coverage expecting run support from the I Form look. Pair this play with Mtn Flood or Mtn PA Counter in the same set so the defense has to respect both the run action and the flood concept, then come back to SFT Mtn PA Flood once the defense starts jumping the underneath routes.
