Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Tight Cheat TE Flood is a flood concept out of Shotgun Bunch Offset that stacks three routes on the same side to overload one deep third or half of the field. Off the diagram, the outside receiver runs a deep corner, the tight end (motioned tight to the formation) breaks to a deep out at the numbers, and the third bunch receiver runs a flat route underneath, while the backside receiver runs a shallow drag crossing the field. The blocking is a standard five-man pass protection with no extra help sent out, so this is a straight dropback pass, not play-action or an RPO. It is built as a Cover 3 beater since the vertical flood stretches the deep third defender and the corner/flat combo creates a natural high-low read against a single-deep defender.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single-high versus two-high safety alignment, single-high shells are exactly what this flood concept is designed to exploit. Key the flat defender's reaction to the pre-snap motion, if he stays home and does not follow the motion man that is a strong indicator of zone coverage and the corner route should be open behind him. Post-snap, watch the deep third or deep half defender's leverage on the flood side, if he opens up to run with the corner route the TE's out route will sit wide open underneath in the vacated zone. This play is vulnerable to a hard corner blitz from the flood side since there is no chip or extra protection, so a defender with a fast diagnose who fires off the edge can force an early throw before the flood routes develop. Cover 4 or Cover 6 shells with two deep defenders on that side can take away both the corner and out routes, forcing the quarterback down to the flat route or the backside drag as checkdown options.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense adjusts, if the flat defender follows the motion man across the formation you are likely seeing man coverage and should key the corner route for a big play.
Against Cover 3, work the high-low read on the flood side: if the deep defender sinks with the corner route, put the ball on the TE's out route sitting in the void underneath.
This play shines on second and long or third and medium since the flat route gives you a quick outlet if the deep windows are not open, protecting you from negative plays.
Pair this with Tight Cheat TE Out or PA Cheat Switch Comeback from the same set so you can show the same bunch alignment and motion while attacking different levels of the field, keeping the defense guessing.
Watch the clock on your dropback since there is no extra protection, if you see a nano blitz look pre-snap consider hot routing the backside drag into a quick option or checking to a faster developing throw.
