Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Curl Combo out of Shotgun Doubles Y-Flex is a five man protection pass play built around a curl and flat combination to the closed side while the backside receiver runs a deep dig across the field. The TE releases to the flat as a checkdown option while the boundary X clears out on a deep crossing route, and the backside outside receiver runs an out and up to hold the corner deep. Primary read progression starts with the curl route working against the sinking linebacker, then works down to the flat, with the deep crosser as a big play answer if the defense rotates away from it.
Defensive Reads
Watch for linebackers sinking hard into the curl zone which signals a zone drop coverage that will make the quick flat route the better answer. Man coverage on the outside receivers with no safety help over the crosser means the deep dig can be a home run ball if the quarterback has time. A single high safety who stays deep in the middle typically leaves the flat route wide open against man beaters. User controlled defenders sitting in the shallow curl zone can jump the primary read, so the flat and deep cross become the answer routes. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge will collapse the pocket before the deep dig develops, so know the sim pressure with pre-snap protection adjustments.
Usage Tips
Check the safety alignment before the snap to identify if you are facing a two high shell or single high look, since the curl route sits in the soft spot of most zone drops. Use the flat route as your quick hot route answer against blitz looks where you need to get the ball out fast. Pair this call with Curl Flats or Stick from the same set so the defense has to respect multiple curl and flat combos out of the identical formation look. On third and medium situations this play shines because the curl route settles right at the sticks against zone coverage. If the corner presses the deep crosser look to backside window quickly before the safety can rotate over the top.
