Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Under is a play-action pass out of Singleback Tight Doubles that creates a flood concept to one side of the field while stretching the defense vertically with a deep cross. Post snap, the play action fakes the handoff to hold the linebackers before the QB works the flood side: a go route from the outside receiver, an in-breaking route from the slot working underneath, and a flat route from the backfield releasing to the same side, while the deep cross runs the seam-to-cross route all the way across the field from the opposite side. This is a zone beater built to attack levels: it isolates flat defenders and hole defenders by giving the QB a high-low-deep read to one side, with the deep cross serving as a backside answer against man coverage or if the flood side gets taken away. Primary read progression starts with the flat route underneath, works up to the intermediate in route, then to the deep go, with the deep cross as the last read if the QB has to buy time off the play-action boot.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and cornerback alignment on the flood side, since a two-high shell with soft corners signals cushion for the underneath in route and flat. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they step up hard on the play-action fake it opens throwing lanes underneath and confirms the flood concept will work. Post-snap, track any user-controlled defender flashing down into the flat or shallow zone, this lurk threat can jump the underneath flood route and bait a turnover. Cover 3 with a hard-charging Sam or Will linebacker on a nano blitz can disrupt the play-action timing before the flood routes develop, so watch for pressure off the edge. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the biggest liability against this concept, since the deep cross and go route combo can outrun trailing defenders if the QB has time.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion or a hot route check to identify if the defense is showing zone or man before the snap, since this play punishes zone drops that leave the flat and flood side underneath windows open.
Look for two-high safety shells with linebackers sitting in short zones, this is where the flood concept shines because it forces one defender to cover two levels.
If you see man coverage or a single-high shell with aggressive linebackers biting on the play fake, prioritize the deep cross since it clears out and beats trailing man defenders across the field.
Call this on early downs in normal run-pass distance to keep the play-action believable, and pair it with HB Inside Zone or HB Dive earlier in a series so the fake actually holds linebackers.
Sequence Under with PA Boot or Shallow Cross from the same set to keep the defense guessing between flood concepts and quick-hitting boot action off similar formation looks.
