Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 14 playbooks
Breakdown
Drag Curl aligns from Empty Bunch Wide out of Shotgun with five receivers spread and no backfield help, so this is a pure pass concept with no run or screen action attached. The bunch side runs a drag underneath and a deep vertical release from the stack, while the isolated trips side (out of frame detail shown) works a curl at the sticks and an out breaking toward the sideline, with the deep corner route on the far side climbing vertically to stretch the defense. The primary read starts with the drag working left to right for a quick access throw against man coverage, then progresses to the curl sitting down in the zone window before working back to the deep corner shot if the defense bites on the underneath routes.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing two deep safeties or a single high shell, since Cover 2 shells can squeeze the corner route while Cover 3 leaves it more exposed to the flat defender. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they sink hard to cover the drag and curl windows, that signals zone coverage and you should look to the deep corner route as your answer. Key the corner back or slot defender on the bunch side, if he sits flat footed at the snap he is likely playing man and the drag route will separate quickly underneath him. User a rover or lurk defender in the shallow crossing lane to jump the drag route, this is the biggest threat to shutting down the quick access throw and forces the quarterback to hold the ball longer. If the defense brings a nano blitz off the edge, the quarterback must get the ball out fast to the drag or curl since the deep corner route takes too long to develop against pressure.
Usage Tips
Check for single high versus two high safety alignment before the snap since this concept thrives when the defense shows Cover 3 or Cover 1 with the corner route holding the deep defender.
Use the drag as your answer versus man coverage and blitz looks because it clears underneath quickly and picks up positive yardage before the pocket collapses.
Hot route the curl runner into a spot route if you see zone drops sitting exactly at the sticks, since that adjustment sits in the soft spot between the underneath and deep zones.
This play pairs well with Jailbreak Screen and QB Draw from the same set, since defenses that key on Drag Curl's spread formation and start jumping the drag route are vulnerable to the screen or draw as a change of pace.
Best called on second and medium to third and short since the drag and curl combo gives you a high floor completion while the corner route keeps deep defenders honest.
