Playbooks

Curls Attack

Shotgun·Bunch·11

Curl Pass Play

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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetBunch

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 1 playbook

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Breakdown

Curls Attack out of Shotgun Bunch is a zone beater built around a triple curl concept from the bunch alignment, designed to sit down in the soft spots of zone coverage at the sticks. The bunch alignment creates natural rub release for all three receivers, making it tough for zone defenders to get clean drops and forcing linebackers to widen their zone drops. The primary read progression starts with the shallow curl to the flat side, then works to the intermediate curl in the middle of the field, and finishes with the deep curl or backside option if the underneath windows are clogged.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify two deep safeties versus a single high safety since Cover 2 and Tampa 2 shells are the most exploitable against this curl concept. Check linebacker depth before the snap, if they are playing shallow or blitzing off the edge, the middle curl window opens up immediately for an easy completion. Post-snap, watch for a user controlled defender sitting in the intermediate curl zone, if he jumps the route, hit the shallow curl in the flat instead for the easier throw. This play struggles against press man coverage with no help since the bunch alignment does not generate enough separation on the break for tight man matchups. Beware of Cover 3 buzz or robber concepts where a safety rotates down into the underneath middle, that defender can undercut the intermediate curl route if you stare it down.

Usage Tips

Attack Tampa 2 or Cover 3 shells since the natural bunch spacing creates late-breaking curls that settle in the seams between zone defenders.

Use this on third and medium to third and long situations where sitting down at the sticks matters more than pushing vertical.

Hot route the backside receiver on a quick out or slant if you diagnose man coverage pre-snap, since curls are more vulnerable to press man with no natural picks.

Pair this with Bunch Verts or Bunch Sail earlier in a drive so defenses respect the vertical shot, then come back to Curls Attack to punish zone defenders sitting on shorter routes.

Watch for user linebackers dropping into the middle curl lane, if they jump the route early, work the deep curl or check down to the running back for a checkdown against the blitz.