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Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Strong Flood out of Shotgun Y Off Trio Wk stacks three routes to the strong side to overload one third of the field. The backside receiver runs an out and up combo (jerk route) into the flat, working underneath as a checkdown or man beater versus trailing corners. To the strong side, the flood concept layers a flat route, an out breaking route at intermediate depth, and a vertical clear-out route up the seam, giving the quarterback a high low read from the sideline out to the deep threat. This is a classic Cover 3 beater since the vertical route occupies the deep third defender while the out and flat routes stretch the underneath zone defenders horizontally.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing two high safeties or a single high shell, since Cover 3 and Cover 1 with a deep middle defender are the primary coverages this flood concept is designed to exploit. Watch the corner to the strong side at the snap, if he sinks with the vertical route the underneath out and flat routes should have space, but if he sits and jumps the out route that is a sign of a sticky zone or man press look. Key the flat defender, usually a linebacker or nickel, and see if he widens to the flat receiver or stays home to rob the out route, since his choice dictates which route the quarterback should prioritize. User controlled defenders playing a deep lurk over the out route or robbing the intermediate zone can bait a bad throw, so if you see a defender sitting in that window abort to the backside jerk route or check down. Cover 2 with two deep safeties can be a problem since the deep corner has help over the top on the vertical route, allowing him to squat harder on the flood routes underneath.
Usage Tips
Diagnose the safety alignment pre-snap, single high safety shells are exactly what this flood concept is designed to attack since the deep vertical clears the corner and forces the flat defender to choose. Use the backside jerk route as a built in answer against man coverage or if the defense rotates away from the flood side, giving you a two way go without needing to progress through the full flood. On third and medium or third and long, trust the out route at the intermediate level since it settles into the void behind underneath zone defenders and in front of the deep third corner. Pair this play with Flood Post or Curls Combo from the same set to keep the defense guessing between a flood beater and a play that attacks the middle of the field differently, forcing linebackers to respect multiple route depths off similar formation looks. If the corner to the flood side is playing off man, hot route the flat route to a quick out or speed up the vertical release to force an earlier decision from the flat defender.
