Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Curl Flats out of Singleback Spread 10 personnel shows a five man protection with dual curl flat combos on the perimeter. The left side runs a curl flat combo where the outside receiver sits down at the sticks while the slot receiver releases underneath to the flat, and the right side mirrors this with the isolated receiver running a vertical curl route while the nearest receiver works the flat. The HB releases on a check release route up the middle, giving the QB a three level read on either side of the formation. This is a zone beater designed to attack cover 2 and cover 3 by stretching flat defenders horizontally while sitting curl routes in the soft spot behind them, with the primary read progression starting at the curl route to the boundary side, then working to the flat, then over to the backside curl.
Defensive Reads
Watch for cornerbacks playing off coverage at the snap, which signals zone drops that open up the curl route sitting down at the sticks. Key the flat defenders (usually outside linebackers or slot corners) to see if they widen with the flat route or stay home to rob the curl. Against cover 3, the corner will bail deep and the flat is often wide open underneath since only one underneath defender covers two threats. User controlled defenders sitting in a lurk position over the middle can jump the HB check release, so account for a user picking off the checkdown route. Man coverage with press corners at the line kills the curl flat timing since the outside receiver cannot separate cleanly at the top of his route, so check to a hot route or audible into a slant based concept instead.
Usage Tips
Presnap identify whether the defense is showing two deep safeties or a single high shell, since this concept thrives against cover 2 and cover 3 zone drops.
Hot route the flat defender's landmark by motioning the slot receiver across formation to check if the defense follows in man or stays put in zone.
Use the HB check release as your outlet against blitz heavy looks, since he can leak out for an easy checkdown if both curls are covered.
Pair this play with Four Verticals or 949 Yara in your play calling sequence to punish defenses that start cheating up to jump the curl flat routes.
Run this on second and medium to long situations where the sticks are within range of the curl route depth, giving the QB a high percentage completion window.
