Playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn Curls Texas lines up from Shotgun Spread Y-Slot with 11 personnel and shows a Texas concept out of the backfield combined with curl routes from the two receivers to the left. The backfield player runs the Texas route (angle release into a flat/option route) while the outside receiver on that side breaks vertically before hooking into a curl, and the two receivers to the right of the formation run a deep out and a curl paired together, with the number 1 receiver on the far right pushing a deep dig or curl at intermediate depth. This is a man beater and zone beater hybrid, built to attack underneath zone drops with the Texas route while curls sit down in soft spots against zone, with the primary read progressing from the Texas concept to the check down back, then to the curls working outside in.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high versus two high safety shells, since two high alignments often signal softer underneath zones that the curls can exploit. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they sink deep into zone drops the Texas route out of the backfield will have a wide open throwing lane underneath. Man coverage on the running back is a major vulnerability since the Texas route is designed to win against man defenders with its angle and separation. Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells with aggressive flat defenders can jump the curl routes early, so be ready to look off or hold the ball until the route fully breaks. Watch for blitzing linebackers crashing downhill, since this tips zone coverage behind them and opens the curl sitting down in the vacated area.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion or shifts to confirm if the defense is showing man or zone before the snap, since the Texas route out of the backfield is a premier answer to man coverage on linebackers.
Against zone shells, target the curl routes sitting down in the soft spot between the underneath zone and deep zone, especially versus Cover 3 or Cover 4 where the flat defender widens.
On third and medium to long, prioritize the Texas concept read first since it creates a natural pick and mismatch against linebackers who struggle to stay in phase.
Pair this play with Curls or Digs H Option from the same set to keep the defense guessing between similar route stems, forcing linebackers to hesitate on their zone drops.
If the defense shows heavy pressure looks, get the ball out quickly to the Texas route as a built in answer to beat the blitz before the pocket collapses.
