Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Strong Flood is a trips-side clearout concept that stacks three routes to one side of the field at three distinct levels. The outside trips receiver runs a corner route vertically up the sideline, the middle trips receiver runs a deep out that sits behind it, and the inside trips receiver runs a quick flat route underneath. Away from the trips side, the backside receiver runs a comeback breaking back toward the sideline while the running back releases on a check release swing route out of the backfield. This is a classic Cover 3 beater built to overload one flat-to-deep zone and force a single defender to choose between the flat, the out, and the corner, with the primary read progressing from the deep corner route down to the flat.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high safety alignment and press or off man on the outside trips receiver, this signals Cover 3 and tells you the flood concept will stress the boundary defender. Post-snap, key the flat defender's first two steps, if he widens to the flat the deep out sits behind him for an easy completion. Watch for a user lurking underneath in the throwing lane trying to jump the flat or out route, this is the primary counter defenses use against flood concepts. Cover 4 or Cover 2 shells with two deep safeties can undercut the corner route since there is help over the top, this play is less effective against those shells. Man coverage with an aggressive blitz can be a problem if the flat defender blows up the swing route quickly, so check for overloaded blitz fronts pre-snap and be ready to check into a hot route or checkdown.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or second and medium when you expect single high safety looks or Cover 3 shells from the defense.
Read the flat defender first at the snap, if he sinks with the corner route the flat and out will be wide open underneath.
Use the check release swing route as a checkdown against blitz-heavy looks since it releases late and gives you a safety valve versus pressure.
Pair this with Four Verticals from the same Y Off Trips set to keep defenders honest on deep coverage rotation, then hit Strong Flood when they start jumping underneath routes.
Hot route the backside comeback into a deep dig if you see the defense rolling coverage away from the trips side, this gives you a two way go against Cover 3 rotation.
