Playbooks
Flood is a classic three level stretch concept designed to overload one side of the field with a deep, intermediate, and shallow route, making it one of the best zone beaters in the Box Y Split set. The outside receiver runs a deep corner or go route, the slot or TE works to the intermediate flag or out, and the running back or a third receiver settles underneath in the flat, creating a horizontal and vertical stretch on the flooded side. Against man coverage the concept still holds up because the underneath flat route acts as a natural pick and rub option, but the primary read progression is deep to intermediate to flat, working high to low based on the flow of the closest deep defender.
Pre-snap, check safety depth and alignment to the flooded side, since a rotated single high safety leaving the corner isolated is a green light to take the deep shot immediately at the snap. Watch the flat defender or nickel corner at the snap, if he sinks with the intermediate route or bails deep, the underneath flat route will be wide open for an easy completion. Key the sinking corner in Cover 3 concepts, if he stays flat footed or reads run first, the deep corner route will separate over the top. Be wary of Cover 4 or Cover 2 Man looks with a deep safety sitting directly over the flooded side, since this shell can squeeze the corner route and force you to check down early. Watch for user blitzes off the edge to the flooded side, as this often signals a sim pressure package designed to jump the flat route, so be ready to hit your checkdown or backside route quickly if you see extra defenders creeping to the line.
Identify pre-snap whether the defense is showing a two high shell or single high look, since Flood is most deadly against Cover 3 and Cover 2 rotations to the flooded side. If you see a Cover 3 rotation with the corner sinking deep, hit the intermediate flag or out route sitting in the hole behind the underneath defender and in front of the deep defender. Use hot routes to push the flat route deeper into a shallow drag if the defense is playing aggressive underneath zone drops, taking away the easy checkdown. Pair Flood with Curls or Quick Unders on the backside of your play call sequence to condition the defense into thinking every play is a horizontal stretch, then hit Y Trail or PA WR In off the same look for a shot play. On third and medium or third and long, Flood is a great money down call because the deep corner route can pick up the sticks on its own if the safety bites on the underneath routes.