Playbooks
Depth-chart slots are shown as they line up in the base package for this set.
| Player | Side | Route |
|---|---|---|
| HB1 | Left | Flat |
| WR3 | Left | Curl |
| WR2 | Left | Deep Post |
| WR1 | Right | Speed In |
| TE1 | Right | Pass Block |
Curl Switch is a man beating concept out of the Stack HB WK look in Shotgun 11 personnel that uses switch releases at the snap to create natural rub picks against man coverage. The stacked receivers cross paths early to confuse press or trail defenders while the underneath curls settle into soft spots against zone drops, giving this play dual utility as both a man and zone beater. Primary read progression starts with the switch release receiver working to the boundary, then works to the curl route settling at the sticks, and finally checks down to the HB out of the backfield if both are covered.
Check safety alignment before the snap, single high safety usually means man coverage underneath which favors your switch release rub. Watch cornerback depth at the snap, if they play off you have more room to sit the curl route down at the sticks. Post-snap, look for a user controlled defender sitting in the shallow hook zone since that lurk threat can jump the curl and force a checkdown. Against zone blitz looks, the switch release can get picked off by a linebacker dropping late so be ready to check to the HB quickly. Cover 2 shells with press corners tend to shut this down since the flat defender can squat on the curl break, so avoid this play against heavy 2 man under looks.
Identify press man coverage pre-snap and trust the switch release to naturally separate your receivers off the jam. Use this play on second or third and medium since the curl route sits right at the sticks for an easy conversion. Motion the HB across pre-snap to bait linebackers into declaring their assignment before the snap. Pair this with Curl Flat later in a drive so defenders start jumping the curl route, then hit the flat conversion for an explosive play. If you see a lurking defender sitting in the middle zone hook area, hot route your curl route to a corner or out to avoid the sit down zone drop.