Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Flood is a three level route concept run from Shotgun Empty Chips out of 11 personnel, stacking two receivers to the right with the corner running vertical to a corner route, the slot running a deep out, and the flat receiver running an out to the sideline while both left side receivers run shallow crossers underneath. This is a classic Cover 3 beater since it stretches one side of the field high, medium, and low, overloading the deep third defender and the flat defender on the trips side. Primary read progression starts with the corner route deep, works down to the deep out from the slot, and finishes with the flat route as the check down against a hard rotating zone.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify the deep safety count since one high safety indicates Cover 3 or Cover 1, both of which Flood is built to exploit on the trips side. Post-snap, key the flat defender's drop, if he sinks to cover the deep out the flat route underneath will be wide open for an easy pitch and catch. Watch for a user controlled defender sitting in the corner route's throwing lane, since that lurk can bait the quarterback into an interception on the deepest route. Cover 2 with two deep safeties can shut this down since the corner route runs into the safety's zone, so switch to the deep out or flat as the primary target in that shell. Man coverage with underneath help, such as Cover 1 with a linebacker spy, forces the quarterback to rely on the shallow crossers on the backside rather than the flood routes.
Usage Tips
Look for single high safety alignment pre-snap since Flood is designed to overload one third of the field against Cover 3 and Cover 1. Use the corner route as your first read versus zone shells that show a hard flat defender, since the deep out behind him will be open in the void. Motion or shift the trips side receiver pre-snap to confirm man versus zone by watching if a defender follows across the formation. Pair this play with Curl Flat or Slot Sail in your play-action sequencing so the defense has to respect both a low flood concept and a high crossing shot on the same personnel look. On third and medium, call Flood to the wide side of the field to stress the zone defender's leverage and force a decision between the corner and the flat.
