Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Flat Combo out of Shotgun Split Y-Flex is a horizontal stretch concept built to attack zone drops and flat defenders. The backside receiver runs a deep in breaking toward the opposite sideline while the two inside receivers work a flat and pivot combo underneath, and the number 1 receiver to the right runs a vertical seam up the numbers. This is a zone beater at its core, using the seam route to hold the deep defender while the flat and pivot routes create a natural high low read against cloud or curl flat zones underneath.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat defender on the number 1 side pre-snap, since a defender sitting at five yards or shallower signals a hard cloud look that will jump the flat route. Key the middle linebacker depth after the snap, because a fast drop into the underneath crossing lane can undercut the pivot route and bait a turnover. Identify two high safeties pre-snap as a green light for the seam route up the numbers, but a single high safety rotation means the seam will get squeezed and the underneath combo becomes the primary answer. Look for a user controlled defender sitting in the shallow middle zone, since that lurk spot is designed to jump the pivot and flat combo timing. Recognize man coverage by tight corner alignment and safety rotation late, which signals you should get off the backside deep in route quickly and lean on the seam or flat as man beating options.
Usage Tips
Check the pre-snap alignment of the flat defender on the number 1 side before the snap, since a cloud corner or aggressive flat defender changes your first read.
If the defense shows two high safeties, the seam route from the number 1 receiver can split the hash and become your first read against a soft zone shell.
Hot route the backside deep in to a comeback or hitch if you see man coverage press at the line, since the long developing crosser is vulnerable to a jam.
Use this play on second and medium or third and short, where the underneath flat and pivot combo gives you a quick answer against zone blitzes.
Pair this with Y Post or Corner Strike from the same set to keep the defense honest, since Flat Combo sells the quick underneath game while those plays attack the same look vertically.
