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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Curl Combo out of Shotgun Doubles Y-Flex Offset lines up with two receivers to the closed side running a deep crosser and a shallow drag off a mesh look, the flex TE running a hook/curl route to the middle hook zone, and the number one receiver to the open side running a corner route with the running back releasing out of the backfield on a flat route underneath him. This is a zone beater built to attack the middle of the field and the flat to corner combo on the boundary, using the curl sitting down in the void behind underneath defenders and in front of deep zones. The primary read progression starts with the corner route from the number one receiver against single high shells, moves to the flex TE curl sitting in the hook zone as the check down against zone drops, and ends with the RB flat route as the outlet against pressure or if the underneath defenders bail deep.
Defensive Reads
Watch the safety alignment before the snap, since a single high safety tips coverage that leaves the corner route to the number one receiver vulnerable if the corner is playing off or bailing late. Key the middle linebacker depth after the snap, since a shallow drop from him signals he is sitting on the curl and you should look to the corner or the flat instead. Look for user controlled defenders lurking in the hook to curl zone, since a savvy user player will jump the flex TE route if he anticipates the throw, so hold the ball an extra beat to freeze him. Identify Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells presnap, since the flat defender in these zones can undercut the RB route if he reads the quarterback's eyes early, so use pump fakes or eye manipulation to hold him. This play struggles against aggressive man blitzes with no underneath help, since the mesh concept and curl can get clogged if defenders press and trail tightly, so be ready to check to the RB outlet immediately.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing two high safeties or a single high shell, since the corner route to the number one receiver is your first alert against single high and press man coverage on the outside.
If the defense shows zone coverage with linebackers sitting at depth, target the flex TE curl route immediately after the snap since it settles into the hook window before the underneath defenders can react.
Use the RB flat route as your answer versus blitz looks, especially when you see extra defenders walked up near the line of scrimmage pre-snap, since it gets the ball out fast and picks up positive yardage.
This play is best called on second or third and medium since the route combination stresses both the flat and the intermediate zones without needing a full field stretch.
Pair this play with Four Verticals or PA Read from the same set to keep defenses honest, since Curl Combo punishes teams sitting in zone while the vertical shots punish teams cheating up to stop the underneath routes.
