Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn All Curl lines up out of Shotgun Spread Y-Slot Wk with three receivers running vertical stems that break down into curls at roughly ten to twelve yards, with the fourth outside receiver pushing a deeper curl-seam that sits behind them. The backside receiver runs a shallow drag across the field underneath all three curls, giving the quarterback a built-in checkdown against underneath zone drops. This is a classic Cover 3 beater that sits routes right on top of the flat and hook defenders, and the primary read progression starts with the deep curl on the strong side before working across the curl-drag combo to the shallow crosser.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and alignment, since a single deep safety in the middle of the field signals Cover 3 or Cover 1, both of which this curl combo is designed to exploit. Watch the flat defenders and corners at the snap, since if they sink hard with the curl routes instead of squatting, the shallow drag underneath becomes wide open. Key the hook or curl linebackers post-snap, since their depth and width determine whether the strong side curl or the drag is the higher value throw. This play struggles against Cover 4 or Cover 2 shells with two deep safeties and disciplined underneath zone defenders sitting on curl depth, since those coverages take away the sit windows and force checkdowns. Be alert for user-controlled linebackers spying the shallow drag or jumping the curl route, since aggressive user defenders sitting in passing lanes can bait the quarterback into a turnover if the deep curls are not read first.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing a two-high or single-high safety shell since this concept thrives against single-high Cover 3 looks where the curls sit in the soft spots between the corner and hook defenders.
Use the shallow drag as your answer versus zone blitzes or when the underneath defenders sink too deep into their curl zones, since it clears out low and fast for an easy checkdown.
Hot route the backside curl into a flat route or speed out if you see man coverage with no safety help over the top, since the natural curl breaks are less effective against tight man leverage.
Pair this play with Four Verticals or PA Comebacks in the same set to keep the defense honest, since both concepts attack similar zone drops but stress different depths and force linebackers to hesitate on their drops.
Best used on second and medium to third and medium situations where the sit routes give the quarterback high percentage completions in front of sticks against zone shells.
