Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Flood Post is a three level flood concept to the trio side of Y Off Trio Wk paired with a deep post from the backside X. The playside receivers run a deep post, an out breaking flat/corner route, and an underneath flat route stacked from top to bottom, while the backside X runs a straight post to occupy the deep middle safety. The HB checks releases into a short angle route out of the backfield as a checkdown against pressure. This is a classic Cover 3 beater built to stress the flat defender and deep third defender simultaneously, with the primary read starting on the post from the backside X, then working to the flood side flat route underneath if the corner sits deep.
Defensive Reads
Pre snap, identify a single high safety shaded toward the trio side, this tips Cover 3 or Cover 1 and opens up the backside post against a rotated defense. Watch the flat defender to the trio side after the snap, if he sinks with the flat route the underneath window closes but the post should be wide open behind him. Key the deep third or deep half defender on the post side, if he bails hard at the snap he is reading pass and the post window will be tight, look to layer the throw over the flat defender instead. Man coverage with no safety help over the top shuts this down quickly since the post has no natural rub or pick to separate from a trailing corner. Watch for a nano blitz off the edge to the flood side, if the offensive line does not account for a extra rusher the quarterback needs to get the ball out on the flat route before the post fully develops.
Usage Tips
Check the safety alignment before the snap, if you see a single high safety shaded to the trio side this play is money because the backside post has a clean lane against a rotated Cover 3.
Use the flood concept on early downs in the redzone or on second and medium when defenses are more likely to play zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4 to protect against explosive plays.
Hot route the HB checkdown into a wider flat route if you anticipate a blitz look, this gives you an outlet against man pressure without changing the flood concept up top.
Pair this play with Deep In or Curls Combo out of the same set so the defense cannot key on the post shot every time you break the huddle, this keeps linebackers honest against play action later.
If the corner jumps the flat route hard, live on the post throw immediately since the deep third defender is now stuck defending two verticals to that side.
