Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Pitt Flood Switch is a trips-side flood concept out of Shotgun Trips HB Wk that stacks three routes to one side of the field at three distinct levels. The inside slot receiver runs a vertical seam that stems into a deep dig across the middle, the outside trips receiver runs an out and up route that clears the flat and pushes deep, and the nearest receiver runs a quick flat route underneath to hold the corner. The backside receiver runs an isolated vertical to occupy a single high safety and keep the deep half honest. This is a classic Cover 3 beater built on flooding one third with high low low leverage, and the primary read progression goes flat to intermediate dig to the deep breaking route depending on how the underneath zone defender reacts to the flat.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat defender at the snap, if he sinks with the vertical route the underneath flat throw is wide open for an easy completion. Track the middle linebacker or hook defender's drop, a shallow drop leaves the intermediate dig route open in the soft spot behind the flat and in front of the deep third. Identify the deep third safety to that side presnap, if he is rotated late or shaded away from the trips look the deep out and up route can win over the top. Beware of user controlled lurk defenders sitting in the flat to jump the underneath route, this is the most common way defenders shut down flood concepts against a good user. Against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells this play loses efficiency since the deep half or deep quarter defenders can sink onto the vertical breaking routes, look to attack the flat and dig quickly before the safety can rotate over.
Usage Tips
Presnap identify whether the defense is showing a single high safety look because that Cover 3 shell is exactly what this flood concept is designed to punish.
Key the flat defender first since his depth and leverage tell you whether the underneath flat route or the deep dig behind him will be open.
Use this on second and long or third and medium situations where defenses tend to sit in zone drops and rally to the flood side.
Pair Pitt Flood Switch with Pitt Z Streak or Flood Switch Fade in the same set to keep the defense guessing between flood concepts and one on one deep shots to the same side.
If the defense shows man coverage presnap, hot route the backside isolated receiver into a quick option or check to a different play since flood concepts lose value against man unless you have a clear size or speed mismatch on the outside vertical.
