Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Flood from Shotgun Tight Slots HB Wk stacks three routes into one side of the field to overload a single zone defender or corner. The backside receiver runs a deep crossing route (red) working from the far side all the way across the field as a coverage-buster, while the three-route flood side stacks a deep corner/go route, an intermediate out breaking route, and a shallow flat route underneath, creating a high-low-flat read on the same landmark. This is a classic Cover 3 beater built to isolate the deep third defender by giving him three stacked options he cannot cover alone, with the primary read progressing from the deep corner route down to the intermediate out and finally to the flat as your checkdown.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flood side corner pre-snap: if he is playing off with a deep safety rotated to that third, expect Cover 3 and take the flood concept over the top of the corner route. Key the flat defender post-snap, since if he sinks with the out route you have the flat wide open underneath for an easy completion. Beware of a Cover 4 shell or two-high safety look, since an extra deep defender can help over the top and take away the deep corner route, forcing you to work the underneath options. If the defense shows man coverage with no deep safety help on the flood side, expect a lurking linebacker or safety to jump the crossing route, so be ready to reset to the flood concept. Look for blitz packages sending pressure off the flood side edge, since the flat route release can get disrupted at the line, delaying your checkdown option.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing Cover 3 or Cover 4 by checking the corner and safety depth on the flood side, since this play is designed specifically to attack a single deep third defender.
Progress your eyes from the deep corner route to the intermediate out route and finally to the flat route, throwing off the defender's leverage rather than locking onto one route the whole play.
Use the deep crossing route as a hot read against man coverage or if you see a blitz, since it works away from the flood concept and can beat a linebacker in man matchup.
Call this on early down passing situations or third and medium since the flat route gives you a safe checkdown if the deep options are covered.
Pair this play in sequence with Four Verticals or X Dig from the same set to keep defenders honest, since both attack similar zone landmarks but stress different levels of the field.
