Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Curl Ohio out of Shotgun Doubles Y Off lines up two receivers to the left in a stack/near alignment, a TE off the line, and an HB in the backfield to the right. The left side runs a mesh style combo: the outside WR pushes vertical then breaks into a deep curl while the inside receiver runs a flat/out route underneath to create a natural high-low read against man or zone. On the right, the TE releases into a corner route while the HB runs an angle route out of the backfield that bends upfield, giving you a curl-flat combo on the strong side and a vertical stem read on the weak side. The primary progression starts with the backside curl over the flat combo, then works to the play side corner and HB angle route if the defense rolls coverage away from the initial read.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat defender to the strong side presnap, if he is aligned wide and shallow he can jump the HB angle route and take away that check down. Key the deep half safeties, if they roll to the play side corner route early you should reset to the backside curl and flat combo for an easier completion. Look for a user controlled linebacker sitting in the throwing lane of the curl route, a well timed lurk here can bait a turnover so pump fake if you see this drop. Cover 3 with an aggressive underneath zone defender is the toughest shell for this concept because it clogs both the curl and flat windows on the backside. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is where this play wins most consistently, since the corner and curl routes create natural separation against trailing defenders.
Usage Tips
Presnap identify if the defense shows a two high shell or single high look before deciding which side of the field to attack first.
Against man coverage the HB angle route out of the backfield is a great option because it forces a linebacker to cover in space, so target this route if you see man match on the backfield.
Against zone coverage the deep curl on the left sits down in the soft spot between the underneath zone and the deep zone defenders, so hold the throw until the receiver settles.
Use this on second and medium to third and short situations where the sticks match the depth of the curl and corner routes.
Pair Curl Ohio with Four Verticals or Flood from the same set to keep the defense guessing between shorter curl reads and stretching the field vertically.
