Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Curls X Go is run from Shotgun Y Trips Wk with 11 personnel, using the backside X receiver on a solo go route to stretch the field vertically while the trips side runs a curl, a corner breaking curl, and a short flat curl underneath. The backside X on the go route occupies the deep half by himself, creating a natural high low with the trips concept working underneath and intermediate on the other side. This is primarily a zone beater, since the layered curls sit down in soft spots against zone drops while the go route punishes any single deep defender or Cover 3 rotation, but it can also work against man coverage if the X wins deep off the release. The read progression starts with the go route on a pre-snap shot look, then works to the intermediate curl breaking inside, and finishes with the underneath curl and flat route as checkdowns.
Defensive Reads
Identify single high safety shells like Cover 1 or Cover 3 before the snap, since the deep half is naturally lighter on the backside and vulnerable to the go route beating a corner without safety help. Watch for two high shells rotating late into Cover 3 or Cover 1, which signals the safety will rotate over the top of the go route and take away the deep shot, forcing you into the underneath curl progression. Post snap, key the flat defender and any underneath zone droppers on the trips side, since a well timed lurk defender sitting in the curl windows can jump the intermediate throw if the quarterback stares it down. Man coverage with a corner playing outside leverage on the X is a green light for the go route, but inside leverage or bracket coverage on that receiver should send the read directly to the trips concept. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the trips side with only man coverage backside are the ideal look for this play, since the go route wins one on one while the hot underneath route beats the blitz timing.
Usage Tips
Take a pre-snap look at the deep safety alignment before the snap, if he cheats to the trips side the backside go route is isolated in a one on one shot opportunity. Use this play on second and long or third and medium when defenses are more likely to sit in zone drops and give up the curl windows underneath. If you see man coverage indicators like tight press alignment on the X, hot route the go route into a slant or in route to counter physical press man. Pair this play with Curls and Curls Combo in the same set to keep the defense guessing on whether the shot play is live, since the formation and initial route stems look identical. Against teams that load up the trips side with extra defenders, check the box count and consider audibling to HB Base or Inside Zone to punish a light backside run fit.
