Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Weak Flood is a three level flood concept run to the weak side of the Pistol Doubles formation. The outside receiver on that side runs a deep out breaking toward the sideline, the slot runs a corner-out that settles at the same depth, and the inside receiver runs a shallow flat route, stacking three defenders at three distinct depths on the same half of the field. On the backside a single receiver runs a deep crosser as a change-up read while the running back stays in to protect, making this a clear dropback zone beater designed to overload one half of the field. The primary read progression starts with the deep out, works down to the corner route, and settles on the flat route as the outlet against zone drops.
Defensive Reads
This concept is built to beat Cover 3 since the deep out and corner routes stretch the single deep third defender horizontally while the flat route sits underneath the curl to flat defender. Watch the cornerback's initial depth at the snap, if he sinks into a deep zone drop rather than pressing, expect zone coverage and work the flood side full speed. Key the flat defender's leverage, if he widens with the flat route the corner route window opens behind him for the intermediate throw. Cover 4 or Cover 2 shells with two deep safeties can take away the deep out route, so be ready to settle for the flat route or backside crosser against those shells. Watch for a user controlled linebacker sitting in a lurk position underneath the corner route, since that defender can jump the intermediate throw if the quarterback stares it down too long.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify the side with the flood concept and check the safety alignment to that side, since a single high safety cannot cover three levels alone. Use this on second and medium or third and short to medium since the flat route is a quick, safe underneath option if the deeper routes are covered. If you see man coverage, hot route the backside crosser into a deeper dig or have the flat route sit down to work away from a trailing defender. Pair this with Curl Flats or Middle Hook from the same set to keep the defense honest on both sides of the field before coming back to Weak Flood to hit the vacated flood side. Against aggressive user blitzers, throw the flat route quickly to punish overcommitted pressure off the edge.
