Curls out of Singleback Y Trips 11 personnel sends the backside X on a vertical stem that breaks into a curl at intermediate depth, while the three trips receivers work the field side. The number 1 receiver in the trips bunch runs a curl route sitting down around 12 to 15 yards, the middle trips receiver releases outside and turns upfield on a wheel or corner track, and the inside slot (blue route) works a short in-cut crossing under the formation. This is a zone beater built to attack the seams between underneath zone defenders and the deep third, with the primary read starting on the backside curl and progressing to the trips side curl based on which soft spot the linebackers and safeties vacate.

Defensive Reads

Check pre-snap safety depth, if both safeties are sitting shallow expect Cover 2 or Cover 4 match, which clogs the curl windows and forces a check to the underneath crosser instead. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if the hook defender sinks too deep the quick in-cut route underneath becomes the higher value throw against zone drops. Man coverage with no safety help over the top on the curl routes is where this play struggles, since curls need space to sit down and man defenders will trail routes through the break point. Identify nano blitz packages or overload pressure looks, since the curl route developing at intermediate depth requires time and a five step drop, making this play vulnerable to disguised interior pressure. Against Cover 3, the flat defender widening to cover the wheel or corner route from the trips side is the key indicator that the curl window underneath is opening up for the quarterback.

Usage Tips

Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing a two high shell or single high look, since curl routes settle into soft spots against zone coverage and this play struggles against tight man coverage without a hot route adjustment.

Use the backside X curl as your first read on quick zone drops, then progress to the trips side curl if the flat defender widens and opens the window underneath.

Against Cover 3, target the curl route in front of the hook defender before the deep third safety can trigger downhill, this is a classic sit route beater in the honey hole.

Pair this play with Deep Comebacks or Four Verticals from the same Y Trips set to keep defenses honest on curl depth, forcing safeties to respect the vertical shot before you come back to Curls.

Best called on second and medium to third and medium, giving the quarterback a easy completion window with the curl sit routes rather than forcing a low percentage deep shot.

Curls

Quick Reference

In 4 playbooks

Receiver routes

Read progression

Breakdown

Defensive Reads

Usage Tips

Other Plays in Y Trips