Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Flood stacks three routes into the same side of the field to overload one deep zone defender. The outside receiver runs a vertical clear-out, the slot receiver runs a corner/flat route to the sideline off a quick out cut, and the TE or RB releases to the flat underneath, creating a high-low-hi three-level stretch on that half of the field. This is a classic Cover 3 beater built to isolate the deep third defender and the flat defender with conflicting horizontal and vertical stress, and the primary read progression goes vertical clear-out first to see if it pulls the deep defender, then to the flat route breaking to the sideline, then down to the underneath flat as the checkdown.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing single high safety or two deep safeties, since Flood is designed to punish single high Cover 3 looks. Post-snap, watch the deep third defender on the flood side. If he sinks with the vertical route, the flat-breaking route will be wide open underneath him. Key the flat defender or linebacker dropping to the sideline zone. If he widens with the flat route, the underneath route sitting behind him becomes the answer. Watch for user-controlled defenders lurking in the shallow zone, since aggressive users will jump the underneath flat route and bait you into a turnover if you throw it too early. This concept struggles against Cover 4 or Cover 2 with two deep safeties who can double up the flood side, and it is vulnerable to a nano blitz sent from the flood side since it removes a blocker or forces a quick, unprotected throw.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or third and medium when you expect single high or Cover 3 shells based on the defense's depth pre-snap.
Check safety alignment before the snap. If you see one deep safety in the middle of the field, that confirms Cover 3 or Cover 1 and this concept has a clean answer.
Use the vertical route as a clear-out to occupy the deep third defender, then work the flat-breaking route as your primary target since it exploits the seam between the deep and underneath zones.
If the defense shows two-high safeties pre-snap, consider hot routing the underneath flat route into a quick option route or check to a different play in the set like Curl Ohio, which handles two-high shells better.
Pair this play with Levels Mills or PA Post Shot in your call sheet sequencing to keep defenders guessing between horizontal flood concepts and vertical shot plays out of the same formation and personnel look.
