Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Steeler Curls out of Singleback Wing 12 personnel shows a two receiver route combo to the closed side with a checkdown release out of the backfield. The inline receiver on the line runs a vertical stem that breaks into a corner route up the sideline, while the wing TE releases into a quick curl at the sticks with an inside pivot in front of him for a shallow settle route over the middle. The single back leaks out to the flat as the outlet, and the rest of the protection stays in to pass block, making this a curl flat concept designed to attack zone coverage by stretching underneath defenders vertically and horizontally. Primary read progression starts with the curl at the sticks, works to the corner route up top, then checks down to the flat if the underneath zones squeeze the throwing lanes.
Defensive Reads
Read the curl route first since it settles right at the sticks and is the quickest answer against both zone and man if the linebacker underneath does not sink deep enough. Watch for user controlled linebackers or safeties sitting in the shallow curl zone, because a lurking defender there can jump the route and bait a turnover if you force the throw. Against Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells, the corner route up the sideline is the explosive answer since it should split the deep zone defenders if the cornerback bites on the curl underneath. If the defense shows blitz pre-snap with linebackers crashing downhill, get the ball out quickly to the curl or flat since the protection is not built to hold up long against extra rushers. Cover 2 shells with the corner rolled up can undercut the corner route, so check the curl and flat combo instead of forcing the ball deep into a squeezed window.
Usage Tips
Use this on third and short to third and medium since the curl route sits right at the sticks and gives you a high percentage completion against zone drops.
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing a two high safety shell or single high, because the corner route up the sideline is your explosive shot play against man coverage with a safety rotated away.
If linebackers are sitting shallow and jumping the curl, hot route the flat runner into a wheel route or speed him up to attack the void behind the underneath zone before the safety can rotate over.
Pair this play with Curl Combo and TE Stick in your play calling sequence since all three hit similar timing windows but attack different levels, which keeps defenses guessing on where the ball is going.
Against man coverage, look to work the curl into a settle route immediately after the catch since the pivot route in front of it occupies the underneath defender and creates natural separation.
