Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Curl Combo out of Shotgun Normal Y Off is a quick-hitting curl concept designed to attack zone drops underneath. The outside receiver to the boundary runs a vertical stem before breaking down into a curl, the inline TE releases and works an inside curl/dig look over the middle, and the backside X runs a deep clearing route up the numbers to hold the corner. The RB releases to the flat as a checkdown and outlet, while the line slides protection to handle a four man rush. This is a zone beater at its core, using the curl-flat combo to settle into soft spots against Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells, with the primary read starting on the near curl before working to the TE's inside curl and finally the RB in the flat.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flow of the underneath linebackers at the snap. If they sink hard into the curl windows, you are likely facing Cover 3 or Cover 4 and need to throw with anticipation before the window closes. Key the flat defender's positioning. If he widens to take away the RB checkdown, the inside curl from the TE should be open behind him. Look for a user controlled defender lurking in the shallow middle zone, since that player can jump the TE's inside curl if left unblocked by the mesh. Man coverage with no safety help over the top will flatten these curl routes quickly, so if you see press corners and no deep rotation, consider hot routing away from this concept. Blitz-heavy fronts that bring extra rushers will win the down the moment they beat the slide protection, so check the RB's release responsibility before deciding whether he stays in as a blocker or runs the flat route.
Usage Tips
Use this on third and short to third and medium when you expect zone coverage, since the curl routes sit down right in the sticks.
Pre-snap, identify single high versus two high safeties. Against single high with corners playing off, the curls will sit in soft spots between the underneath zone and the deep third.
If you see man coverage or press corners, hot route the outside curl into a corner or out route to counter the zone beater design and attack leverage.
Combine this with Curl Flats or Slant Flat from the same set to keep the defense guessing between high curl reads and quick flat throws, forcing linebackers to widen or collapse.
Pair with Four Verticals as a play-action changeup once the defense starts jumping the curl routes, since it uses the same formation and personnel to disguise intent.
