Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Flood is a three level stretch to one side of the field designed to overload a single zone with three vertical stem routes at different depths. Out of the Bunch Open TE look, the backside receiver runs a deep out to occupy the far corner while the bunch releases into a corner route, a deep dig that climbs vertically before working back to the flag, and a flat route that settles underneath as the checkdown. This is a classic Cover 3 beater since it stacks three defenders into one deep third and one flat defender against three separate route depths, forcing the corner and flat defender into an impossible conflict.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and alignment since a single high safety cheating to the flood side signals Cover 3 or Cover 1 and tells you this play has a strong answer waiting. Watch the flat defender's positioning at the snap, if he sinks with the corner route instead of staying home in the flat, the underneath route is wide open for an easy pitch and catch. Key the corner's backpedal angle, if he opens his hips to the sideline and gets depth on the corner route, the dig route sitting down in the middle third becomes the primary window. This concept struggles against Cover 4 or Cover 2 shells where two defenders can split the deep responsibilities, so if you see two safeties rotating post-snap into quarters, expect the corner route to be taken away and look to bail to the flat early. Man coverage with underneath lurk defenders can jump the flat route, so if you see man match principles or a linebacker sitting outside hip to hip with the flat receiver, hold the ball longer and trust the dig route working away from that leverage.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is in a one high shell before the snap since this play is built to punish Cover 3 and Cover 1 zone drops. If the corner to the bunch side is playing deep and outside leverage, throw the flat route immediately for a quick underneath completion. Against Cover 3, work your progression from the deep corner route down to the dig and finally to the flat, since the corner route occupies the deep third defender and opens the intermediate window for the dig. Hot route the flat receiver into a quick drag if you see man coverage across the board to give yourself a rhythm throw against blitz looks. Pair this play with Z Spot or Mtn Sprint Z Spot in your play-calling sequence so the defense has to respect both the high-low flood concept and a quick spot concept from the same bunch look, keeping linebackers honest on their zone drops.
