Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Deep Curls out of Shotgun Split Offset shows a 20 personnel look with both outside receivers running vertical stems that settle into deep curls near the sideline. The slot receiver runs a shorter curl/hitch underneath while the inline receiver on the strong side pushes a deep dig-like route across the middle, and the backfield player releases on a shallow crossing route underneath everything, giving the quarterback a layered high-low read from outside in. This is a zone beater built to attack the soft spots between the deep and underneath zone defenders, with the primary read starting on the strong side dig working to the deep out breaking curl.
Defensive Reads
Two deep safety shells like cover 2 or cover 4 are vulnerable because the curls settle in the soft zone right at the sticks between the corner and safety. Cover 3 with a hard flat corner can squeeze the outside curl, so look for the strong side dig to work against the vacated middle zone instead. User controlled linebackers sitting in the shallow crossing lane will take away the underdneath outlet, forcing the quarterback to hold the ball longer for the curls to develop. Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets exposed if the corner bites on the vertical stem before the receiver breaks down into the curl. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge are the biggest threat since the deep curls take time to develop, so identify pre-snap blitz alignment and be ready to check into a quicker concept.
Usage Tips
Check the safety depth pre-snap because two deep safeties invite the outside curls to sit down in the honey hole against cover 2 or cover 4.
Use the shallow crossing route as your hot route answer against pressure since it clears the line quickly and gives you a built in blitz beater.
This play pairs well with Slot Seam or Deep Comeback from the same set since both attack similar zone landmarks but punish defenders who jump the curl route in coverage.
Throw the deep curls on third and medium to long since the sit down routes create natural throwing windows against zone defenders who are reading the quarterback's eyes.
Motion the slot receiver before the snap to confirm man versus zone, if the defender follows across the formation switch your first read to the crossing route underneath.
