Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Flood out of Shotgun Ace Slot Offset stacks three routes into one side of the field to overload a single deep third or half. The backside receiver runs a deep vertical clear-out while the two frontside receivers stack a deep out and a shallow drag underneath, creating a high low read on the flat defender and deep third corner. This is a classic Cover 3 beater since the three-level stretch forces one defender to cover two horizontal windows, and the primary read progresses from the deep out to the underneath drag if the corner sinks.
Defensive Reads
Identify single high safety pre-snap, this signals Cover 3 or Cover 1 and both are vulnerable to the flood concept on that side. Watch the flat or curl to flat defender post-snap, if he sinks under the deep out the quarterback should hit the drag underneath immediately. User controlled corners who bail into a deep third can be baited into the flood, look for the corner's depth at the snap to decide between the out and the drag. Two high safety shells like Cover 2 or Cover 4 shrink the deep out window, so expect the corner to stay on top and force the quarterback to the drag or backside vertical clear-out. Watch for a lurking linebacker sitting in the middle hole, he can jump the drag route if the quarterback stares it down too long.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs against Cover 3 shells to stress the flat defender with the deep out and drag combo.
Check pre-snap for single high safety alignment, if the corner to the flood side is playing deep off coverage the deep out will sit down in the void.
Use the drag as your check down against man coverage since it works as a quick separation route versus linebackers.
Pair this with PA Verts or PA Y Corner from the same set to keep the defense honest on run fits before dialing up the flood concept.
Best used on second and medium or third and short to medium when you need a high percentage completion with YAC upside on the drag.
