Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 13 playbooks
Breakdown
Curl Combo aligns out of Empty Base Trio with three receivers stacked to one side and two receivers isolated to the other, giving the quarterback a clean five-man route distribution with no back in the backfield to check release. Both outside receivers on the trio side and the single receiver on the boundary run vertical stems into curl routes that settle around ten to twelve yards, while the inside slot receiver on the trio side runs an out route to the flat to stretch underneath zones horizontally. The lone receiver removed to the boundary runs a quick out breaking away from the formation, giving the quarterback an immediate hot route option against pressure. This is a zone beater built to attack cushion at the second level, with the primary read starting on the trio side curl-flat combo before working across to the backside out route.
Defensive Reads
Presnap, check safety depth and leverage on the trio side since a single high safety cheating toward the boundary receiver tips a rotation to zone. Watch the cornerback over the trio side for outside shade, which signals he expects help underneath on the flat route and will sink into the curl window. Post snap, key the middle linebacker or nickel defender responsible for the curl to flat combo, since a fast flat drop opens the curl for an easy completion while a delayed drop can bait a throw into a jumped route. Zone coverage with soft cushion at ten yards is where this play struggles most for the quarterback, since curls sitting down in front of the defender allow him to close throwing lanes. Man coverage on the boundary receiver with no safety help is the quickest kill shot for the defense, so if you see press man in that alignment expect the quick out to be taken away and force the ball into contested trio side windows.
Usage Tips
Presnap, identify whether the defense is showing two deep safeties or a single high shell, since Curl Combo thrives against zone coverage that leaves soft spots between the linebacker level and the deep safeties. If you see man coverage with no help over the top, consider hot routing the trio side curls into speed outs or digs to create more separation against tight man technique. Use this play on second and medium to third and short situations where the curl routes sit right at the sticks for an easy conversion. Pair this call with Slants or Hitches Slot In earlier in a series to condition the defense to sit on short routes, then hit the curls over the top of aggressive underneath zone drops. Against Cover 3, target the curl sitting in the deep third seam right before the corner rotates under it, and against Cover 2 work the flat route first to hold the underneath defender before coming back to the curl.
