Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Curls Combo out of Shotgun Y Off Trio Wk shows a trips-weak look with a single receiver isolated backside running a vertical fade up the numbers, marked as the number 1 read. On the trio side, the outer receiver runs an out and up (sail) route stretching the sideline, the middle receiver runs a deep curl sitting down around 12 to 14 yards, and the inside slot runs a short flat/curl combo that occupies underneath defenders. The offensive line shows a standard pass protection set with the back staying in to help, making this a straight dropback passing concept built to attack zone coverage by stacking curl and flat reads on the trio side while giving you an outside vertical shot if the defense rolls coverage away from the numbers.
Defensive Reads
Watch the backside cornerback leverage on the number 1 receiver presnap, since outside leverage with no safety help over the top invites the go route for an explosive play. Post snap, key the flat defender or nickel corner on the trio side, since if he sinks with the curl route the flat becomes wide open for an easy completion. Identify user controlled defenders dropping into the deep curl window, since a good user linebacker or safety can sit in that route and jump the throw if the quarterback stares it down. Cover 3 zone with a hard flat corner squatting on short routes can take away both the flat and curl combo, so be ready to check to the backside go route or reset with a different concept. Man coverage with press corners on the trio side can disrupt route timing on the underneath routes, so use hot routes or motion to create leverage before the snap if you see man alignment.
Usage Tips
Presnap, identify if the defense is showing two high safeties or single high, since the backside go route on the number 1 receiver is your explosive shot play against single high man coverage or cover 3 with a corner playing off.
If the defense shows zone with linebackers sitting in the underneath curl/flat areas, work the trio side high to low starting with the deep curl and working down to the flat route to hold defenders and create separation.
Use the flat route as your hot route answer versus blitz looks, since it releases quickly and gives you a built in check down against pressure off the edge.
Pair this play with Four Verticals or Deep In from the same set to keep defenses honest, since Curls Combo punishes zone drops while those plays attack man coverage or deep zone voids.
This concept works best on second and medium to second and long, giving you enough field to let the curl routes develop and sit down in soft spots between levels.
