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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Jets Curl is a trips-side curl concept out of Shotgun Y Off Trips Close, pairing a backside dig and drag combo with a three-level curl/flat read to the trips side. The X receiver runs a deep in behind the shallow drag from the slot, while on the trips side the Y (TE) sits down on a curl at the sticks with the outside WR working underneath to the flat, creating a natural high-low stretch on the flat defender. This is a zone beater designed to attack curl-flat and hook zones, with the primary read starting at the curl (Y) and working down to the flat before checking the backside dig if the defense sits on the trips concept.
Defensive Reads
Key the flat defender first since he has to choose between jumping the flat route or sitting on the curl, and if he bites on the flat, the curl window opens immediately. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if the middle linebacker or nickel drops too deep into a hook zone, the underneath drag and flat routes will have soft grass to work with. Identify Cover 3 by reading corner depth pre-snap, if the corner to the trips side is playing deep third, expect the curl to sit in a natural window between him and the flat defender. Against man coverage, watch for a lurking linebacker or safety near the drag and dig crossing point, since a user-controlled defender sitting in that lane can jump the shallow crosser. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge can disrupt this play quickly, so check protection assignments and consider a quick hot route to the flat if the defense shows pressure pre-snap.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing a two-high or single-high shell since the curl route to the trips side works best against zone coverages that leave a linebacker or nickel defender responsible for the curl/flat area.
Use the flat route as a checkdown against Cover 3 if the corner sinks deep on the curl, since the flat defender usually has to choose between the drag and the flat man.
Against man coverage, the backside dig and drag combo can work as your primary target since the natural pick action at the break point creates separation versus man beaters.
Pair this play with X Curl or Deep Slot Curl in the same set to keep the defense guessing on which curl route is the primary read, forcing linebackers to hesitate on their zone drops.
Best used on second and medium to third and short situations where the sticks-level curl route gives the quarterback a high percentage completion against zone drops.
