Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 11 playbooks
Breakdown
Curl Combo out of Shotgun Normal Y Off Wk lines up with a bunch-style look on the left and an isolated X to the play side. The backside receiver runs a deep vertical clear-out while the inside receiver breaks off a quick out, and the play side X pushes vertical before settling into a curl at the sticks with the outside receiver working an over route underneath into the flat. This is a zone beater built around the curl-flat combination, with the primary read starting on the curl sitting down in the soft spot of a Cover 3 or Cover 4 shell before working down to the flat route underneath it.
Defensive Reads
Look for two high safeties pre-snap since that alignment usually signals Cover 4 or Cover 2, both of which leave the curl window soft against a zone drop linebacker. Check the flat defender depth at the snap, a squatting corner or linebacker sitting under the curl is a sign the defense is playing spot drop zone and will bait the quarterback into the flat. Watch for a user-controlled linebacker sinking hard to the curl route, that is the classic lurk read and it tells you to reset to the flat route or the backside vertical instead. Man coverage with a corner shaded outside on the play side X is a coverage shell that struggles versus this concept since the curl still creates natural separation off the vertical stem. Heavy blitz shows with only three defenders in coverage should push you to check into the quick flat route as an outlet since the deep curl will not have time to develop against the pressure.
Usage Tips
Use this on second and medium to second and long when you expect a zone drop shell rather than press man across the board.
Pre-snap, identify the flat defender and curl/hook defender because this concept is designed to put stress on that exact conflict player in Cover 3 and Cover 4.
If you see two deep safeties rotate to single high after the snap, work the curl route immediately since the hook defender usually widens late to help outside.
Pair this call with Four Verticals or X Dagger from the same set so defenses cannot sit on the shorter curl-flat combo without opening up the seams.
Hot route the backside vertical into a shallow drag against man coverage looks to give yourself a quick underneath answer instead of relying on the clear-out.
