Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 16 playbooks
Breakdown
Strong Curl is an Empty Base Flex passing concept out of Shotgun with five receivers spread across the formation and no running back in the backfield. Off the diagram, the No.1 receiver to the strong side runs a vertical release into a quick out breaking to the sideline, the slot defender runs a short curl settling back toward the quarterback, the inside receiver next to the tight end runs a curl breaking back to the middle, the tight end (or inline receiver) runs a deep dig cutting hard underneath the far corner route, and the backside receiver runs a corner route stretching the boundary vertically. This is a zone beater built around curl and dig sit routes that settle in the underneath and intermediate zones while the corner route occupies the deep defenders, and the primary read progression starts with the strong side out/flat route as the quick hot throw, then works to the strong curl sitting in the hook zone, then to the deep dig crossing underneath, with the backside corner as the last read against single high shells.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and leverage; two high safeties with soft corners signal zone coverage that Strong Curl is designed to exploit. Watch the strong side corner's positioning at the snap; if he sinks into a deep zone drop instead of pressing, the quick out route to that side will be open immediately. Post-snap, track the middle linebacker or hook defender; if he widens to cover the strong curl route, the deep dig behind him becomes the window to attack. Beware of Cover 1 or Cover 0 man blitzes with a lurking underneath defender who can jump the curl and dig routes since this concept lacks a true hot route answer against pressure. If the defense shows a two deep shell with press corners at the line, expect the corner route on the backside to be the most vulnerable since the safety has to rotate over late to help.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense shows two high safeties or a single high shell since this concept thrives against zone coverage that leaves soft spots in the hook and curl zones.
Use the strong side out route as a quick answer against Cover 3 sink or Cover 4 flat drops when you need a fast, safe completion on early downs.
Hot route the backside corner route into a deeper post or streak against Cover 2 to punish the safety who has to bail late, especially in third and long situations.
Combine this play with Y Shallow Cross or WR Screen in the same set to keep defenses honest against underneath zone drops, then come back to Strong Curl once linebackers start sitting shallow.
Look to the deep dig as your money throw against Tampa 2 or Cover 3 because it settles in the intermediate hole between the underneath zone and the deep third defenders.
