Playbooks
Breakdown
Curl Flat out of Pistol Bunch runs a classic curl and flat combo to the bunch side while the backside receiver runs a deep in style cut across the field to occupy the opposite hash. From the diagram, the outside bunch receiver settles into a curl at intermediate depth while the inside bunch receiver releases to the flat, creating a natural high low read on any defender responsible for that quarter of the field. The backside X breaks flat across the middle on a shallow crosser, giving the quarterback a three level stretch that attacks both man and zone coverage. This is a pass play designed as a Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater, using the curl to sit in the hole of zone defenses while the flat route clears out underneath for YAC opportunities.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing two deep safeties or a single high safety, since Cover 2 shells are the most vulnerable to the curl sitting in the seam. Watch the underneath linebacker or nickel defender assigned to the flat route, if he widens too fast the curl will be wide open behind him. Against man coverage, look for a linebacker or safety trying to cover the flat route out of the backfield or bunch alignment, that mismatch is an easy completion. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender and deep third corner can take away both the flat and curl if the defender sinks and reads the quarterback's eyes. User controlled lurk defenders sitting in the shallow crosser lane can bait a pick six if the quarterback stares down the backside route too long, so keep the primary read on the curl flat side first.
Usage Tips
Read the flat defender first since the curl and flat combo puts him in a bind between the shallow route and the curl sitting behind him.
Use this on second and medium or third and short since the flat route gives an easy checkdown and the curl provides a chain moving option against zone drops.
If you see Cover 2 shells pre-snap with two deep safeties, trust the curl route to settle into the soft spot between the corner and the linebacker.
Hot route the backside crosser into a deeper dig if you are facing Cover 3 to add a fourth level read and stress the middle linebacker.
Pair this play with Flanker Drive or Spacing from the same Bunch set to keep the defense guessing between quick game and intermediate curl concepts without changing your formation tendency.
