Playbooks
Likely unavailable in the playbook builder
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Curls Lead Swing is a zone beater out of Shotgun 11 personnel that pairs dual curl routes from the outside receivers with an HB swing to the flat and a lead blocker in the backfield. The curls sit down in the soft spots of zone coverage between 10 and 12 yards while the swing acts as a checkdown and pressure outlet, giving the quarterback a high-low read on the same side of the field. Primary progression starts with the near curl, works to the far curl if the underneath defender sinks late, and dumps to the swing as the final safety valve against a hard blitz or clogged intermediate zones.
Defensive Reads
Read the flat defender first: if he widens with the swing route or bails outside, the window for the near curl opens up immediately. Check linebacker depth at the snap, shallow linebackers who crash downhill on the lead blocker or swing action leave the curl uncontested. Watch for a user-controlled defender sitting in the underneath curl zone (the classic lurk spot), since aggressive players will jump the near curl route expecting a quick throw. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is a green light for the curls since the sit-down nature of the route creates natural separation against trailing defenders. Cover 2 with hard-flat corners can squeeze both the swing and the near curl, so be ready to climb the progression to the far curl or check down late if the underneath zones stay tight.
Usage Tips
Attack Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells since the curls settle right in the honey hole between the flat defender and deep third or quarter defender.
Use the pre-snap read to check safety depth: if both safeties are deep and cornerbacks are playing off, the curls will have room to sit down for an easy pitch and catch.
Hot route the backside curl into a deeper dig or corner route against teams that consistently bracket the curl with a linebacker and safety.
This play excels on second and medium to long yardage since the curl breakpoints match common sticks-to-move-the-chains distances.
Pair this call with HB Swing or Mtn HB Swing earlier in a series to condition the defense to bite on the swing, then come back to Curls Lead Swing to hit the curl behind a jumpy underneath defender.
