Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Flood HB Flat is a three level flood concept out of Shotgun Trio HB Wk, sending two outside receivers vertically down the field while the slot receiver runs a deep out that flattens near the sideline, creating a natural high low stretch on the perimeter defender. The HB releases to the flat as the true underneath option while the inline TE runs a short crosser working back toward the formation, and the QB has a vertical rush lane up the middle with no direct blocker shown, meaning protection is on the tackles and any RB check release. This is a classic Cover 3 beater because it stretches the deep third defender vertically and horizontally at the same time, and the primary read progression starts with the deep out breaking to the flat, then works down to the HB flat route, then comes back to the TE cross underneath if the flood side gets taken away.
Defensive Reads
Presnap, check safety alignment. A single high safety indicates Cover 3 or Cover 1, which this flood concept is designed to exploit by overloading one deep third. Watch the corner to the flood side after the snap. If he stays flat footed reading the quarterback instead of retreating with the vertical route, he can undercut the deep out and jump the throw. Key the flat defender, usually a linebacker or nickel. If he widens quickly with the HB, the deep out sitting behind him becomes open, but if he sits and reads the quarterback's eyes he can jump that route. Two deep safety shells such as Cover 2 or Cover 4 shut this down more effectively since the extra deep defender can help bracket the flood side vertical routes. Postsnap, watch for a user controlled lurk defender sitting in the shallow crossing lane. That defender can undercut the TE cross if the quarterback stares down that route too long.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or second and medium when you expect single high or Cover 3 shells, since the flood concept is designed to attack the deep third defender to that side.
Presnap, identify the flat defender and the deep third corner. If the corner sinks too deep on the vertical routes, the deep out sitting in the flat becomes an easy pitch and catch for a chunk gain.
If the defense shows Cover 2 or Cover 4 with two deep safeties, consider hot routing the HB flat into a quicker option or checking down immediately since the flood concept loses some punch against two high shells.
Pair this play with Sticks or Dagger Sit in the same set to keep defenses guessing between a flood concept and an intermediate option concept, forcing linebackers to respect both shallow and intermediate zones.
Against aggressive user blitzers, get the ball out quickly to the HB flat or TE cross since the vertical rush lane up the middle can collapse protection fast if the defense brings extra pressure.
