Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn Deep Flood runs a three level flood concept to the right side out of Shotgun Wing Flex Offset with 12 personnel. The outside receiver runs a deep corner route, the tight end or wing runs an out breaking route to the intermediate flat, and a third receiver crosses underneath to the flat, stacking the same side vertically at three distinct depths. On the backside a receiver runs a deep post crosser that occupies the middle of the field while the underneath route sets up a shallow crossing option, making this a strong cover 3 beater since it stretches a single deep third defender and the flat defender horizontally and vertically. The primary read progression starts with the deep corner route, works down to the intermediate out, and finishes with the underneath flat route if the defense rolls coverage away from the flood side.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify the safety count and corner depth on the flood side, a single high safety with the corner playing off leverage tells you cover 3 is likely and the deep corner route will have room to work. Post-snap, key the flat defender or curl to flat linebacker, if he sinks with the intermediate out route rather than jumping the underneath crosser, the quarterback should climb the ladder to the corner route immediately. Watch for a user controlled defender lurking in the deep third, a smart user will abandon the flat responsibility and rob the corner route, so the quarterback must be ready to check down to the shallow crosser if that happens. This concept struggles against cover 4 or cover 2 looks with two deep safeties since the corner route runs into a natural double team, so if you see two safeties deep pre-snap consider audibling to a different concept in the set like PA Double Post or Wheel Post Drag. Man coverage with underneath linebackers spying can also disrupt the crosser, so if you see man alignment before the snap, prioritize the deep corner route matchup over the underneath option.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or second and medium when you expect single high safety looks since the flood concept overloads one deep defender. Check the corner and safety alignment pre-snap, if you see a rotated cover 3 shell with the corner playing outside leverage, the deep corner route has one on one space to win against a defender who has to respect the flat. Use motion before the snap to identify if the defense is in man or zone, if a defender follows the motion man across the formation you are facing man coverage and should look to hot route the underneath crosser into a quicker option against a blitz. Pair this play with Four Verticals in your play calling sequence since both attack vertical seams and force the defense to declare their shell, then come back with Mesh Spot or Slants Y Stick to punish any zone defenders sitting deep after seeing the flood beat them once. Against aggressive defenses that bring pressure, hot route the underneath flat route to a quick option or slide protection to buy the quarterback time for the deep corner route to develop.
