Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Weak Flood out of Shotgun Doubles floods the weak side of the field with three route levels stacked on top of each other. The inline slot runs a deep corner route up the sideline, the outside receiver on that side sits down on a shallow drag underneath, and the running back releases out of the backfield on an angle route to the flat, creating a high low read from deep to short. On the backside, the far outside receiver runs a vertical seam to hold the single high safety or backside corner honest. This is a Cover 3 beater by design, since the flood concept overloads one zone defender's area with three options at different depths, forcing him to pick which throwing lane to jump.
Defensive Reads
Identify the strong side flat defender pre-snap and see if he is a linebacker or a nickel corner, since that tells you how much speed he has to cover the drag to angle route combo. Check for a single high safety alignment, which confirms Cover 3 or Cover 1 and opens up the corner route over the top. Post-snap, watch the flat defender's initial drop: if he sinks to take away the drag, the corner route window opens behind him, but if he sits shallow, look immediately to the drag route for a quick completion. Watch for a user controlled defender flying to the flood side pre-snap, which signals the defense is jumping the concept and you should reset to the backside seam or check down to the running back. Cover 2 with two deep safeties can squeeze the corner route throwing lane, so be ready to work the drag and angle route combination underneath instead of forcing the deep shot.
Usage Tips
Use this play on third and medium to long when you expect single high shells like Cover 3 or Cover 1, since the flood concept is built to stress a single zone defender on the strong side. Pre-snap, check the strong side corner and flat defender depth. If the corner is playing deep press with no underneath help, hot route the drag route to a quick option or hitch to speed up the throw. Against zone, read high to low: start on the corner route, then work down to the drag, then check the angle route out of the backfield as your checkdown against a hard sink from the flat defender. Pair this play with Curl Flats or Slant Flat from the same set to keep defenders guessing between flood concepts and quicker underneath throws. Against man coverage looks, this play loses value fast, so keep Double Slants or Mesh on standby as your man beater counter from this personnel grouping.
