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Breakdown
Curl Flat out of Singleback Wing Tight Z shows a two-man route combo to the closed side: the wing back releases into the flat while the inline attached TE runs a curl route sitting down in the void behind that flat route, creating an easy high low read on any underneath defender. On the backside, the outside WR runs a deep vertical (the red 1 route) to hold the safety, while the slot runs a short curl breaking away from the formation. This is a classic Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater that attacks the flat defender and curl defender leverage with a quick two-step progression, and it does not involve any run action or RPO elements based on this diagram.
Defensive Reads
Read the flat defender first since he determines whether the wing back or the curl route is open in front of him. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if the underneath defender sits too deep the flat route will be wide open immediately. Against Cover 3 look for the curl route to settle into the natural zone void between the flat defender and the deep third defender. Beware user controlled linebackers or safeties dropping into a lurk technique on the curl route, since a good user read can jump this route and create a turnover. This concept struggles against aggressive man coverage with underneath press since there is no natural rub or pick to separate the flat and curl routes from tight man coverage.
Usage Tips
Presnap identify if the defense is showing two high safeties or a single high shell, since this concept is built to punish Cover 2 and Cover 3 zone drops. If the flat defender jumps the wing back route immediately, work back to the curl sitting behind him for the easy completion. Use this on early down and medium distance situations like second and seven or third and six where a quick underneath completion moves the chains. Hot route the backside curl into a deeper dig if you see the defense rolling coverage away from the flat concept, giving your quarterback a true high low read on both sides of the field. Pair this with Curl Flat Seam from the same set to keep defenders guessing between the flat curl combo and a seam shot off similar route spacing.
