Playbooks
Breakdown
Curls out of Shotgun Spread Y-Slot sends three receivers vertical before breaking down into curl routes at staggered depths, with the outside receiver on the boundary side running a deep flag to hold the corner and safety. The backside runs a five step curl while the RB releases into the flat on a check down, giving the quarterback a horizontal stretch from the sideline curl down to the underneath flat route. This is a zone beater that attacks the soft spots between the underneath and deep zone defenders, with the flag route occupying the deep third so the curls settle into open grass. Primary read progresses from the outside curl to the inside curl, then to the RB flat route if the zones sit deep.
Defensive Reads
Watch the depth of the underneath linebackers and nickel defenders at the snap, if they sink too deep on the curl breaks the flat route to the RB is wide open. Identify two deep safeties pre-snap, this indicates a zone shell where the curls will find soft spots between the shallow and deep zone defenders. If you see man coverage indicators like corners pressing at the line with a single high safety, expect the curls to be covered tightly and prioritize the flag route or check down instead. Post-snap, key any user-controlled defender sitting in a lurk spot over the middle, since that defender can jump the inside curl route if the quarterback holds the ball too long. Recognize blitz packages by counting rushers pre-snap, if the defense brings extra pressure the curls need to break quickly since the quarterback will have a short clock to hit the first open window.
Usage Tips
Use this on second and medium to third and short when defenses are more likely to sit in zone rather than blitz.
Pre-snap, identify if the corners are playing off man or zone by their depth, off coverage with sagging linebackers is exactly what this play wants to exploit.
If you diagnose man coverage, hot route the backside curl into a speed out or dig to create separation, since curls stall against tight man coverage.
Pair this with Four Verticals or Go Y-under from the same set so the defense respects the vertical shell before you come back to Curls, keeping linebackers honest and opening the curl windows.
Against zone shells with deep safeties creeping down, target the flat route to the RB quickly since underneath defenders will be occupied with the curl breaks.
