Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Curl Flat Corner out of Shotgun Trips HB Wk stacks a three level stretch on the trips side while the backside X runs a shallow out breaking to the sideline. From the trips bunch, the outside receiver runs a corner route stretching the deep third, the middle receiver sits down on a curl at the intermediate level, and the inside slot releases to the flat for the underneath layer. The backside receiver runs an isolated out route as a quick alert against man coverage. This is a versatile Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater that stresses the flat defender and deep half or deep third defender simultaneously, with the primary read progressing from the corner route to the curl and finally to the flat if the deep shots are covered.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap identify if the defense is showing two high shells, since Cover 2 leaves the deep middle vulnerable to the corner route beating a flat footed cornerback. Watch the flat defender post-snap, if he widens to take away the flat route the curl behind him becomes the easy answer against a Cover 3 look. Key on the deep third or deep half defender assigned to the trips side, a slow break or outside leverage bite opens the corner route for an explosive gain. Man coverage with no help over the top on the backside X route is an immediate alert to fire that ball quickly before a user controlled defender can close the cushion. Watch for a linebacker spy or lurk sitting in the throwing lane of the curl route, since a disciplined zone drop into that window can bait a risky throw and lead to a turnover.
Usage Tips
Check the safety alignment before the snap, if you see two high safeties with the corner cushioned off the trips side this is a great Cover 2 beater because the corner route will climb over the flat defender and into the seam between the safeties.
Against Cover 3 look for the flat defender squeezing the underneath route, since the corner route will occupy the deep third defender and open the curl sitting behind the linebacker level.
Use the backside out route as a built in hot route answer versus man coverage on early downs, it gives you a quick access throw if the trips concept is jumped by extra defenders.
This play shines on second and medium to long situations where you need a chain moving throw with the curl but also want a home run shot on the corner if the defense sells out on the underneath stuff.
Pair this with All Curl or Curls from the same set to keep the defense guessing between three level stretch concepts and pure curl combinations, forcing linebackers to respect multiple route depths from identical formation looks.
