Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Curl Flat out of Shotgun Double Stack sends both stacked receivers on the left into a crossing pivot, with the outside receiver breaking to a deep comeback/out while the inside receiver clears underneath, creating natural traffic against man coverage. On the right side the TE runs a curl that settles at intermediate depth while the outside receiver on that side runs the flat route, forming the classic curl flat combo to that side. The HB stays in to help protect while the offensive line slides to pick up interior pressure, making this a dropback pass play designed to attack both Cover 2 and Cover 3 shells with the curl sitting in the hole and the flat stretching the underneath defender horizontally. Primary progression starts with the curl flat combo (curl first, flat as the release valve), then works to the left side crossing routes if the underneath defenders overcommit.
Defensive Reads
Read the flat defender first, if he sinks with the flat route instead of jumping it, the curl behind him is open all game. Watch for a user controlled linebacker sitting in the curl window, this is the biggest threat to shut down the primary read and forces a quick check to the flat. Against man coverage, key whether the defense brings a blitz off the edge, since the RB staying in protection is critical to give the QB time to work the curl flat combo. Check safety depth pre-snap, two deep safeties usually signal Cover 2, which this play is designed to beat by stretching the flat corner. If the defense shows a single high safety with press corners, expect man coverage, and prioritize the crossing routes on the left stack for natural separation.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify if the flat defender is a linebacker or a slot corner, since a slower linebacker in the flat gets beat easily by the flat route on the right side.
Against Cover 3, key the curl route sitting down in the zone window between the underneath and deep defenders, this is your primary answer versus a three deep shell.
Against Cover 2, the flat route drags the corner down and opens a throwing lane to the curl behind him before the safety can rotate over.
Use the crossing routes on the left stack to occupy man defenders and create a natural rub, ideal versus man coverage on third and medium situations.
Pair this play with Four Verticals or Fake Screen Go from the same Double Stack set to keep the defense honest, since the stack alignment disguises whether you are attacking vertically or working underneath.
