Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Curl Flats out of Singleback Doubles Flex is a quick-hitting zone beater built on a classic curl to flat combination. On the left, the two receivers run a mesh style crossing pattern where the inside man sits down on a curl while the other releases to the opposite flat, and on the right the outside receiver runs a curl into the void created by the flat route underneath. The TE runs a quick out into the flat from the middle of the formation, giving the QB a three level stretch read from the flat up to the curl. This is a timing based zone beater designed to attack cushion defenders and hook zone dropouts, with the primary progression working flat to curl on either side depending on the leverage the defense shows post snap.
Defensive Reads
Watch for cornerbacks aligned with heavy outside leverage and deep pre snap depth, which signals Cover 3 or Cover 4 and opens the flat routes as the primary read. Key on the flat defenders post snap, since a linebacker or nickel corner sinking too deep into the curl zone leaves the flat uncontested for an easy checkdown throw. If you see two deep safeties splitting the field evenly pre snap, expect Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells that squeeze the curl routes, so be ready to throw with anticipation before the safety closes the window. User controlled defenders lurking in the middle hook zone can jump the curl routes, so if the defense shows a spy or rat backer look, prioritize the flat route or backside curl instead. Man coverage with linebackers matched on the TE flat route is a major weakness for the defense, since the TE can win quickly on the shallow out, making Cover 1 or Cover 0 blitzes vulnerable to a fast release throw.
Usage Tips
Pre snap, identify whether the defense is showing a two high shell or single high look, since Curl Flats thrives against zone coverage that drops linebackers into hook or curl zones.
Use the flat routes as your first read against Cover 3 or Cover 4, since corners sitting deep will often leave the underneath flat wide open for an easy completion and yardage after catch.
If the defense shows Cover 2, work the curl routes into the honey hole between the corner and safety, since that soft spot in the zone is the primary weakness of this coverage against curl flat concepts.
Hot route the backside curl into a corner route or speed out if you see aggressive underneath zone defenders sitting too shallow, which opens up more explosive gains downfield.
Pair this play with Flanker Drive or Slot Cross in your play calling sequence to keep defenders guessing between horizontal stretch concepts and vertical crossing routes, forcing linebackers to hesitate on their zone drops.
