Playbooks
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Curl Flats out of the Pistol U Off 12 personnel set spreads both outside receivers vertically up the sideline while the two inside targets work the shallow flats, one breaking left and one releasing right underneath the curl routes. The result is a horizontal stretch that clears the middle of the field and puts stress on flat defenders and curl droppers at the same time. This is a classic zone beater built on high low leverage: the primary read progression starts with the flat route to the open side, moves to the corresponding curl sitting down over it, and finishes on the backside curl flat combo if the defense rotates away.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat defenders at the snap, if a linebacker or slot corner sinks too deep into the curl zone the flat route underneath him is wide open for an easy pitch and catch. Identify Cover 3 shells by reading the corners bailing at the snap, this leaves the curl routes with a soft window against the hook zone defenders who are also responsible for the middle of the field. Key the strong safety and any late rotation, if he flies down to jump the flat route the curl behind him becomes the answer immediately. Man coverage with underneath linebackers in trail technique is the toughest look for this play since both the flat and curl can be undercut, so be ready to climb the progression to the backside combo. Watch for a nano blitz or overload pressure off the edge, since the curl flats concept relies on a clean pocket for the quarterback to work through the full read progression and quick pressure can rush a bad decision.
Usage Tips
Check the pre-snap alignment of the cornerbacks and safeties before the snap, if you see two deep safeties with soft corners playing off you know the curl routes will have room to sit down for easy completions. Use the flat route as your first read against any zone shell, especially Cover 3 or Cover 4, since the flat defender is often stuck in conflict between the flat and the curl sitting behind him. Hot route the backside curl into a deeper dig or corner route against man coverage to give yourself a true man beater instead of settling for a checkdown. Pair this play with HB Zone Wk or HB Slam in the same personnel grouping to keep the defense honest on early downs, then come back to Curl Flats on second or third and medium once linebackers start cheating up on run action. This concept shines on third and short to medium because the curl routes settle in right around the sticks and give the quarterback a rhythm throw with a built in checkdown to the flat.
