Z-Close Curl aligns out of Singleback Doubles 11 personnel with the Z receiver closed to the formation, creating a bunched two-man side on the boundary. The Z runs a curl that settles in the intermediate zone while the tight end runs a shallow drag underneath, sitting down in front of any dropping linebacker to give the quarterback a quick outlet. On the backside, the flanker runs a deep comeback breaking away from the defense to occupy any single high safety or corner playing off coverage. This is a zone beater built to attack soft spots in the middle of the field, with the primary read going to the Z curl first, then working down to the tight end drag underneath if the curl window is closed.

Defensive Reads

Watch the flow of the underneath linebackers, if they widen to cover the tight end drag the Z curl window opens up immediately behind them. Man coverage on the Z receiver is vulnerable since the curl breaks sharply and creates separation against trail technique, especially if the defender is playing tight press. A user controlled lurk defender sitting in the shallow middle can jump both the drag and the curl if he reads the quarterback's eyes early, so look off that defender before committing. Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with deep half safeties will squeeze the comeback route on the backside, making it a low value target unless the corner bites hard on a fake vertical stem. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge test the tight end's release on the drag, if he gets chipped or rerouted the quarterback has to speed up the progression to the Z curl.

Usage Tips

Pre-snap, check for a single high safety shell since the backside comeback is designed to punish off man or soft zone corners playing outside leverage.

If the defense shows two deep safeties, prioritize the Z curl and tight end drag combo since the middle of the field will be more open underneath.

Use the tight end drag as your check down against blitz looks, it releases quickly and gives you a built in answer versus pressure without needing a hot route.

Pair this play with Z Under or Z Spot in the same set to keep defenders guessing on curl versus flat concepts, since the route stems look similar at the snap.

Best called on second or third and medium, where the curl sit route and drag combo give you multiple completion windows against zone drops without needing a explosive gain.

Z-Close Curl

Quick Reference

In 4 playbooks

Receiver routes

Read progression

Breakdown

Defensive Reads

Usage Tips

Other Plays in Doubles