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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Curl Flats is a classic zone beater built around a curl and flat combination on both sides of the formation, giving the quarterback a high low read against zone shells while still holding up versus man coverage on the outside. The outside receivers sit down in the curl windows against zone or work back to the ball versus man, while the running back and slot release into the flats to stretch underneath defenders horizontally. Blocking is standard pass protection with the back checking for blitzers before releasing, and the primary progression starts with the flat route to see how the underneath defender reacts before working up to the curl on either side.
Defensive Reads
Watch the linebacker depth at the snap, if they sink too deep into the curl zones the flat routes will be wide open underneath for an easy completion. Key the cornerbacks at the line, press man alignment signals a chance to beat the curl route with a quick out breaking cut, while soft corners invite the curl sit route into the open zone. User the underneath zone defender on the flat side you expect to throw to, since a well timed jump on the flat route can bait the quarterback into a turnover. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender and sound linebacker zone drops is the best answer to this concept, forcing the quarterback to hold the ball and check down late. Watch for a disguised blitz where the slot corner or nickel crashes the flat, since that leaves the curl route responsibility to a linebacker who may not have the range to cover it.
Usage Tips
Presnap, identify if the linebackers are showing two under or three under zone drops, since Curl Flats punishes any defense that leaves the flat uncovered. If you see man coverage with no safety help over the slot, hot route the curl to a dig or speed out to create separation against a trailing defender. This play pairs well with Double Slants and Stick from the same set because both attack similar horizontal zone windows, keeping the defense guessing on which flat or curl combo you are running. Use Curl Flats on third and short to medium situations where the flat route can pick up an easy first down against off man or soft zone. Motion the slot receiver before the snap to diagnose man versus zone based on whether a defender follows across the formation.
