Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Flanker Curl out of Shotgun Ace 12 personnel shows a five man route concept with no protection help drawn beyond the offensive line. The outside receiver to the boundary runs a deep dig style breakout up the seam, the inside slot works a drag across the formation underneath, the tight end to the strong side releases and settles into a curl at the sticks, and the running back leaks out of the backfield to the flat with a wheel up the sideline as the number one option highlighted in red. This is a zone beater built around high low flat and curl reads, with the primary progression starting at the flat route to the running back before working back to the curl and then to the drag underneath.
Defensive Reads
Key the flat defender at the snap: if he sinks with the curl route, throw the wheel route out of the backfield immediately since it will be uncovered. Watch the underneath linebackers for a lurk threat sitting in the middle of the field, since a user controlled defender there can jump the curl or drag route if you stare it down. Identify cover 2 shells pre-snap by checking safety depth and corner alignment, since squatting corners can undercut the curl route and bait a turnover. Man coverage with no deep safety help is where this concept struggles most, since the curl and drag routes have to win with separation rather than scheme leverage. Look for blitz packages sending extra rushers off the edge, since the running back releasing to the flat may need to check protection instead of running his route if the defense brings pressure.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or third and short since the flat and curl combo gives you a quick rhythm throw against soft zone coverage.
Check the flat defender pre-snap: if the corner or linebacker sits deep in a cloud or cover 2 shell, the running back wheel route is your first alert versus a blown coverage or busted assignment.
Hot route the drag into a deeper crosser if you see man coverage across the formation, since the natural rub from the formation traffic can spring it open versus man beaters.
Pair this play with Curl Flats or TE Under in the same set to keep the defense guessing between quick game and intermediate zone concepts without changing your formation.
Against cover 3, prioritize the curl sitting down in the hole between the flat defender and the deep third, since that is the natural soft spot in the zone.
