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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Curl Combo out of Pistol Wing (12 personnel) shows a route concept built off a curl on the outside receiver, an inside route breaking back to the flat off the numbers, and a running back releasing out of the backfield on an angle route to the sideline. The single receiver at the top of the screen runs a vertical stem into a curl/settle, working as the primary read against off man or zone drops. The angle route from the backfield is the checkdown and man beater versus linebackers, while the underneath crosser gives you a zone beater in the middle void. Progression is curl to the flat, then check down to the angle route if the middle is jammed.
Defensive Reads
Check the cornerback depth pre-snap, a soft corner playing off suggests Cover 3 or Cover 4 and tells you the curl route will have room to sit down. Watch the flat defender at the snap, if he widens with the angle route the curl window opens up immediately for an easy completion. Man coverage with linebackers matched on the backfield route is where this concept shines, the angle route wins on the break almost every time. Zone drops with a linebacker sinking to the curl depth or a robber defender lurking in the middle can take away both the curl and the crossing route, forcing a quick checkdown. Beware of user blitzes off the edge since the protection is not shown extended, a delayed pass rush can collapse the pocket before the curl route breaks open.
Usage Tips
Read the flat defender pre-snap to decide between the curl and the underneath breaking route since both attack similar horizontal space.
Against Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells, target the curl route sitting down in the soft spot behind the underneath zone defenders and in front of the deep third or deep quarter.
Use the backfield angle route as your safety valve versus man coverage, it creates natural separation against linebackers who cannot mirror the change of direction.
Pair this play with PA Boot and PA Ctr Waggle in your call sequence, the similar backfield action and route depth from Pistol Wing keeps linebackers honest and sets up boot action off the same look.
Best used on second and medium or third and short, the quick curl and angle combo gives you a high floor completion while still threatening the intermediate zone if the defender bites on run action.
