Playbooks
Breakdown
Curl Flat out of Singleback Ace Slot lines up with two receivers to the closed side and a slot receiver plus flat runner to the open side. The backside X runs a deep clear out go route while the TY runs a shallow crosser under it, and to the play side the slot receiver breaks off a curl route in the intermediate window while the flat runner releases underneath into the boundary. This is a classic zone beater built around the curl flat combo, with the primary read progression starting on the curl, working down to the flat, and using the backside crosser as a late escape valve against man coverage.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and cornerback alignment on the play side since a soft corner and deep safety usually signal Cover 2 or Cover 3 zone, which this play is designed to exploit. Post-snap, key the flat defender first since if he sinks with the flat route the curl window opens up for an easy completion. Watch for a user-controlled linebacker sitting in the curl zone since a smart user will lurk this route and jump the throw, so be ready to work to the flat or backside crosser instead. Against man coverage looks, especially Cover 1 or Cover 0, expect the curl route to get picked up quickly by the slot corner, so prioritize the flat route or the backside crossing route for YAC. If the defense shows a nano blitz or crashes extra rushers off the edge, get the ball out quickly to the flat since the curl route takes longer to develop against pressure.
Usage Tips
Use this play on second and medium or third and short since the curl flat combo gives you a quick underneath answer against soft zone drops.
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing Cover 2 or Cover 3 since this concept is specifically built to attack the flat defender and the curl window that opens between the underneath zone and deep safety.
If the corner is pressed up on the slot receiver running the curl, consider hot routing him to a quick out or slant to beat man coverage instead of sitting in the zone window.
Pair this play with Slot Under or Stick from the same set to keep the defense guessing between quick underneath throws and the curl flat read.
Against Cover 3, look to the backside crossing route from the TY as your answer since the flat and curl routes can get squeezed by the extra underneath defender.
Call this play on early downs to set up Curl Flat Corner later in the drive since the corner route variant punishes defenders who jump the curl route.
