Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Strong Flood is a three level flood concept run from the trips side of Shotgun Y Off Trips. The outside receiver clears vertically up the numbers, the middle slot runs a square in that sits at the sticks, and the inside trips receiver releases flat to the boundary sideline, stacking three defenders in the same horizontal zone. On the backside, the single receiver runs an in breaking route on a short over the middle, giving a two way go if the defense rotates hard to the flood side. This is a classic Cover 3 beater that overloads one deflender's zone with high, medium, and low route levels, and the primary read progresses from the deep clearout to the flat route underneath as the first true target.
Defensive Reads
Watch the pre-snap safety alignment, a single high safety indicates Cover 3 or Cover 1, both of which this flood concept is designed to punish with the three level stress. Key the flat defender after the snap, if a linebacker or slot corner tries to carry the square in route while also covering the flat you have an easy completion to whichever route he abandons. Look for user controlled defenders sitting in the flat or lurking underneath the square in route, this is the main threat to the play since a smart user can jump the shorter routes and force a checkdown or throwaway. Two high safety shells like Cover 2 or Cover 4 can shut this down more easily since the deep half defender can help squeeze the vertical clearout, forcing you to rely on the backside in breaking route instead. Be alert for corner blitzes or nano blitzes off the edge, since the flood concept takes a moment to develop and quick pressure off the backside can disrupt the timing before the flat route opens up.
Usage Tips
Presnap, identify if the defense is showing a single high safety shell before the snap since Strong Flood is built to exploit Cover 3 and other zone coverages with only one deep defender.
If the corner to the trips side sinks with the vertical clearout route, immediately work down to the flat route since the flat defender cannot cover both the flat and the square in against a true flood concept.
Hot route the backside receiver into a deeper dig or post if you see the defense rolling extra help to the trips side, this turns single high shells into a big play opportunity.
Pair this play with Four Verticals or PA Y Flood in the same set to keep the defense honest, since both stress vertical zones and make it harder for defenders to sit on the flat and square in routes.
Use this on early downs or medium yardage situations like second and seven or third and five, since the square in route sits perfectly at the sticks for a high percentage completion.
