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Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Curl Flats out of Shotgun Normal Flex Wing 11 personnel shows a three level stretch on the boundary side with a curl route settling at the sticks, an outside receiver working vertical before hooking back, and a flat route underneath from the backfield or wing to pull linebackers away. The backside receiver runs a deep vertical clearout to hold the safety and open up the intermediate window. This is a zone beater built to attack Curl-Flat combinations and hi-lo the flat defender, with the primary read starting on the flat route to identify if a linebacker widens, then working up to the curl sitting in the window behind him.
Defensive Reads
Key the flat defender first, if a linebacker or slot corner sinks too deep in his zone drop the flat route will be wide open underneath. Watch for Cover 3 sky or cloud looks, since the curl route sits right in the natural seam between the flat defender and the deep third corner. If the defense shows Cover 2 with two deep safeties, the curl route becomes the primary target as it settles underneath the deep half before the safety can close. Beware of a hard blitz off the edge, since the protection is designed for a standard four man rush and quick pressure off the corner will collapse the pocket before the curl develops. Man coverage with a robber or lurking linebacker in the middle of the field can jump the curl route, so check for a defender sitting in the throwing lane before committing to that read.
Usage Tips
Use this play on second or third and medium when you need a high percentage completion against zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 2.
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing a two high or one high safety look, since the backside vertical route is designed to hold single high safeties and open the curl window.
If you see man coverage on the flat defender, hot route the flat to a quick out or speed out to create separation instead of running it into a defender's hip.
Combine this with PA Dig or Z Dig from the same set to keep linebackers honest on run action before hitting the curl window on later downs.
Pair this with Slot Out or Slants as a quick-game changeup so defenses cannot sit on the curl flat timing every snap.
