Playbooks
Flood H Post is a three level flood concept designed to attack Cover 3 and other zone shells by stretching the field horizontally and vertically on one side. The H receiver runs the post to occupy the deep third or split the safety, while an underneath route sits in the flat and a corner or dig route works the intermediate window behind it, creating a clear high low read against zone drops. This is a zone beater out of Shotgun 11 personnel, with the primary progression starting at the deep post to hold the safety, then working down to the intermediate flood route, and finally the flat as the checkdown against a fast zone drop.
Read the deep safety at the snap, if he stays in the middle of the field the post is likely to split the zone, if he rotates hard to the flood side the intermediate route should come open behind him. Watch the flat defender, in Cover 3 the corner or nickel dropping to the flat often collides with the shallow route, which opens the window for the intermediate flood route to sit down. Key the linebacker depth before the snap, shallow linebackers signal underneath zone coverage that this flood concept is designed to beat, while deep drops from linebackers suggest man coverage or a Cover 4 shell. Look for user controlled defenders sitting in the passing lanes as lurk threats, especially a user linebacker or safety cheating toward the flood side, which can jump the intermediate route and bait a turnover. This play struggles against a well disguised Cover 4 or a two high shell that keeps outside corners in press with safety help, since both corners and a rotating safety can take away the post and the flood route at the same time.
Use this play on second and medium to second and long when you expect a zone shell, since the flood concept is built to punish Cover 3 and Cover 4 defenders who have to divide their eyes between three levels. Pre-snap, identify single high versus two high safety alignment, if you see one deep safety rotate to the flood side, the post has a strong chance to split the coverage. Hot route the backside receiver into a quick option or drag if the defense shows an obvious blitz look, this gives you an outlet away from the flood concept. Pair this play with Y Stick or Y-sail in your play calling sequence, since both use similar formation and personnel but attack underneath zones differently, keeping the defense guessing between levels. Against man coverage, look to the post as a man beater if you get single coverage with no safety help over the top, but be ready to reset to the flat route if the corner sits on top of the route.