Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Deep Flood is a three level flood concept run from Shotgun Trips HB Wk that stacks the boundary with vertical stems from the trips side. The outside receiver runs a go route up the sideline, the slot receiver runs a deep out that settles into the flat area, and the third trips receiver runs a dig that crosses the field underneath the go route, while the backside receiver runs a deep corner and the HB releases out of the backfield on a swing to the flat. This is a classic Cover 3 beater since it floods three levels vertically on one side, overloading the flat defender, curl to flat defender, and deep third corner all at once. The primary read progression starts with the deep corner route on the backside, then works to the go route up top, and finally comes down to the dig route working underneath for a checkdown against zone drops.
Defensive Reads
Watch the free safety alignment before the snap, a single high safety confirms Cover 3 or Cover 1 which this concept is designed to beat. Key the flat defender at the snap, if he widens to the swing route or bites on the underneath route the dig and go routes will be wide open behind him. Identify user controlled defenders sitting in the deep third or playing a lurk technique in the middle of the field, since they can rob the dig route if they read the quarterback's eyes. Look for two high safety shells or Cover 4 rotation, since this can take away both the deep corner and go route, forcing you to check down early to the HB swing. Recognize blitz packages that bring five or six rushers, since the deep developing routes need extra time and a hot route to the swing or slot out may be necessary against pressure.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion or a quick alert to confirm if the defense is showing single high or two high safeties before the snap.
Against Cover 3, target the deep dig route sitting in the void behind the underneath zones since the flat defender cannot cover both the go route and the dig at the same time.
If the corner backside is playing off coverage, take the deep corner route shot as your first read since it stresses the deep third defender immediately.
Pair this play with Four Verticals or Zona Fade in the same set to keep defenses honest against both single high and two high shells, forcing them to declare coverage before you audible.
Best used on second or third and long when you need an explosive gain, since the deep flood concept takes time to develop and needs a clean pocket or rollout protection.
Use the HB swing route as a checkdown against pressure looks or when the defense rolls extra coverage over the top of the trips side.
