Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Flood is a classic three-level stretch concept designed to overload one side of the field and stress zone defenders. Off the diagram, the outside receiver runs a deep corner route, the TE (yellow) works a deep vertical, and the slot yellow route breaks into a shallow out at the sticks, while the blue route from the backfield runs a flat/flag route underneath. This is a Cover 3 beater by design since it isolates the curl-flat defender and stacks three route depths (deep, intermediate, short) on one side, and the primary read progresses high to low: corner route first, then the intermediate crosser, then check down to the flat route if the underneath defender sinks deep.
Defensive Reads
Key the flat defender or curl to flat player immediately after the snap, since Flood is designed to put him in a run pass conflict between the short flat route and the intermediate breaking route. Against Cover 3, the deep third defender to the flood side has to choose between the corner route and any vertical threat from the TE, so watch which route he leans toward to determine your throw. If the defense shows Cover 1 or Cover 0 with man coverage and a blitz, the flat route becomes a quick answer against a blitzing linebacker, but the corner route can still win versus a slower closing cornerback. User the deep corner route defender if you are on defense to take away the primary read, forcing the quarterback to check down into the flat where your underneath defenders can close quickly. Watch for a robber or lurk defender sitting in the intermediate zone, since he can jump the shallow out route and bait a turnover if the quarterback stares down that route too long.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing a single high safety or two high shell, since Flood is at its best against Cover 3 and single high looks where the flat defender has to choose between the short and deep routes.
If you see Cover 2 or Cover 4 with two deep safeties, consider hot routing the corner route to a fade or sitting it down as a comeback to avoid throwing into the deep half defender.
Use this play on second and medium to third and long situations where the defense is more likely to sit in zone coverage and give you access to the flood side high low read.
Pair Flood with Y Trail or Drive from this same Box Y Off set to keep the defense guessing between three level flood concepts and shallow crossing routes that attack man coverage.
If the flat defender widens with the shallow route, throw the deep corner route in rhythm, but if he sinks with the corner, work the ball down to the flat route for a easy pitch and catch.
