Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Cheat Flood Divide is a Cover 3 beater out of the Shotgun Empty Bunch Open set that stacks the field with a vertical flood on the right and a two man divide package on the left. Pre-snap motion shifts a receiver into a short flat route while the outside receiver on that side runs a corner route straight up the seam, creating a high low flood read against zone drops. On the left, one receiver runs a deep vertical clear out while the other works a quick out and up into a corner, giving the quarterback a divide concept to attack the opposite hash. Since this is an empty backfield, there is no run action or play-action, this is a straight dropback pass with the primary read starting on the flood side (flat to corner) before working backside to the divide route combo.
Defensive Reads
Key the flat defender immediately after the snap, if he widens with the shallow route the flood concept is likely to be countered by a sinking corner defender. Watch the deep third safety on the flood side, if he stays flat footed at the snap the corner route will threaten him vertically and open a big play. Identify single high versus two high safety alignment pre-snap, single high leaves the backside divide vertical route in a one on one matchup that favors the offense. User the underneath flat or hook defender on the flood side to squeeze the window between the flat route and the corner route, this is the primary throwing lane the offense wants to exploit. Disguise a Cover 3 look into a Cover 1 or man press blitz to attack the empty backfield with no extra blocker, since there is no run action or check release, a well timed blitz through the middle can force a quick uncomfortable throw.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense rotates or bumps a defender, this reveals man coverage versus zone before the snap. Against Cover 3, hit the flood side flat route first since the corner route will pull the deep third defender vertically and open the underneath window. If the flat defender sinks with the corner route, check down to the shallow flat man for an easy completion and positive yardage. Pair this play with Cheat Slot Cross or Cheat Mesh in your play calling sequence so the defense has to respect both a flood concept and a mesh concept out of the same empty bunch look. Use this on second and medium or third and short to medium since the quick flat and out routes provide a safe underneath answer if the deep shots are covered. Hot route the backside vertical clear out into a deeper post if you diagnose single high safety to create a bigger explosive play window.
