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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Strong Flood is a classic three-level flood concept designed to stretch the boundary vertically and attack Cover 3 zone shells. Off the diagram, the outside receiver runs a deep corner route stemming from an initial hitch, the TE (or slot) climbs a deep vertical seam behind that, and the flanker to that side runs a shallow drag underneath into the flooded zone, while the backside receivers run a comeback and a dig to hold the far side of the field. The primary read progression starts with the deep corner route against the deep third defender, works down to the vertical seam if the corner defender sinks, and finishes with the underneath drag as the checkdown against a hard flat squeeze.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety alignment, if you see a single high safety cheating toward the strong side, expect Cover 3 and know the flood concept is designed to win that shell. Watch the flat defender's depth and leverage, if a linebacker or slot corner sinks too deep trying to jump the corner route, the underneath drag route will be wide open. Post-snap, key the deep third defender to the play side, if he stays flat footed reading the quarterback instead of turning to run with the corner route, you have a big play window before he recovers. Be wary of user controlled lurk defenders sitting in the intermediate seam window, since that route often gets baited and picked off if the seam defender reads the quarterback's eyes early. If the defense shows Cover 2 or a two high shell with press corners, the corner route gets taken away, so quickly progress to the seam or drag route rather than forcing the deep throw.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing a one high or two high shell since this play is built to punish single deep safety Cover 3 looks.
If you see Cover 2 or Cover 4 with two safeties deep, be ready to work the underneath drag and seam route instead of forcing the corner throw into a flooded deep third.
Use your hot routes to convert the backside comeback into a slant or dig if you are getting man coverage on the backside, giving you a two way go against man beaters.
This play pairs well with Four Verticals and Curl Flats in the same set, since all three attack different levels and shells, forcing the defense to guess between deep flood, verticals, and underneath curls.
Best called on second and medium to second and long, or in third and long situations where a deep sideline throw or the intermediate seam can move the chains or hit a chunk play.
