Playbooks

Mtn Flood

Shotgun·Split Slot Open·20
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Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Mtn Flood is a classic flood concept out of Shotgun Split Slot Open that stacks three receivers into the same vertical third of the field at different depths, creating a high low read on one side of the formation. The flood side typically features a deep vertical clear out, an intermediate out or corner route, and a shallow flat or drag underneath, forcing a single defender or safety to declare while the other side runs a simpler man beater or checkdown option. This is a zone beater at its core, designed to overload cover 3 and cover 4 shells, and the primary read progression works high to low: clear the deep route first to open the window, then work the intermediate breaking route before checking down to the flat as a last resort against a scraping linebacker or nickel defender.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, check the safety alignment and cornerback depth on the flood side, since a single high safety with an aggressive corner will struggle to cover all three levels of the concept. Post-snap, key the flat defender or nickel corner first, because if he sinks to the intermediate route the flat throw is wide open, and if he sits in the flat the intermediate out or corner route will be uncovered behind him. Watch for a user controlled safety flying down to jump the intermediate route, which signals you should reset to the deep clear out route or the backside option instead of forcing the throw. This play struggles against cover 6 or match quarters concepts where defenders can pattern match the flood routes, and it can be shut down by an aggressive cover 3 buzz where the flat defender and deep third defender both have eyes on the flood concept. Blitz packages with a spy or a robber underneath the flood routes will bait the quarterback into a turnover, so if you see linebacker depth cheat toward the flood side pre-snap, be ready to check to the backside hot route instead.

Usage Tips

Use pre-snap motion or a shift to identify if the defense is playing zone or man before the snap, since Mtn Flood loses value against tight man coverage with no natural rub. Look for two high safeties rotating late to determine if this is cover 2 or cover 4, and target the flood side away from the rotation for the biggest window. On third and medium to long, this play is excellent because the deep clear out forces zone defenders to widen, opening the intermediate route as a chain moving completion. Hot route the backside receiver into a quick drag or slant if you diagnose man coverage, giving yourself a rhythm throw instead of forcing the flood concept into a bracket. Pair this call with Mtn Y Cross or Mtn Spot HB Choice earlier in a series so the defense respects intermediate crossers, then hit them with the flood concept to stress vertical zone drops they were not expecting.

Other Plays in Split Slot Open