Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Curl Flats out of Singleback Deuce 12 personnel shows a three level stretch to both sides of the field. The backside receiver runs an outside release curl that sits down around ten to twelve yards while the backside flat route from the slot TE clears underneath, and the frontside receiver on the numbered route runs a similar outside release curl sitting down at a shorter depth. The middle route breaks vertically up the seam before working back to the quarterback, giving a natural triangle read against zone coverage. This is a zone beater by design, and the primary progression starts with the deep curl to the numbered side, works to the underneath seam sit, then checks down to the backside flat if the defense rolls coverage away.
Defensive Reads
Read the depth of the underneath zone defenders at the snap, if they sink too deep into the curl windows the flat route will be wide open for an easy checkdown. Watch for a user controlled defender spying the middle seam sit route, since that is the most common lurk threat that will jump the throw and bait a mistake. Check safety alignment before the snap, two high shells invite Cover 4 quarters drops that squeeze the curls, while a single high safety usually means Cover 3 with a deeper flat defender. Identify if the defense blitzes off the edge, since Curl Flats has no built in hot route protection beyond the standard sim pressure look, and a five or six man rush will collapse the pocket before routes develop. Man coverage with no underneath help is the biggest weakness for this play, since none of the routes create explicit rub or pick action to separate receivers from tight man coverage.
Usage Tips
Attack Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells since the curls settle into the soft spots between the underneath zone defenders and the deep third or deep quarter defenders.
Use pre-snap motion or a hot route on the flat defender to clear a linebacker out of the throwing lane if you see a Mike linebacker sitting in the curl window.
On third and medium, prioritize the numbered curl route since it sits at a depth that consistently moves the sticks.
Pair this play with HB Dive or Inside Zone Split earlier in a drive to get linebackers to bite on run fits, which opens up the seam sit route for a bigger chunk gain.
If the defense shows two high safeties pre-snap, expect Cover 4 drops and target the flat route quickly before the corner can sink under the curl.
