Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Curls out of Singleback Y Trips lines up three receivers to the trips side with the TE in-line and an RB in the backfield. The backside X runs a vertical stem before breaking outside on a comeback-style cut, while on the trips side the outermost WR runs a shallow drag/flat route underneath, the middle trips WR sits down on a curl at intermediate depth, and the inside slot climbs vertically before hooking back at depth to sit down over the middle. This is a zone beater built to attack soft spots with three levels of hooking routes, with the primary read starting on the curl from the trips slot and working to the deep curl breaking back toward the QB.
Defensive Reads
Watch for linebackers sinking too deep in zone drops, since that opens throwing lanes underneath to the flat route before the curls even settle. Key on the middle of the field safety, if he stays deep and does not crash down on the curl from the trips slot, that route becomes the primary answer versus Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells. Man coverage with no help over the top on the backside X comeback is vulnerable, since the receiver can create separation on the break back to the sideline. Be alert for user controlled defenders sitting in passing lanes or lurking near the curl depth, since a jumped route on the sit down concept can lead to a turnover if the QB does not process leverage before throwing. Disguised zone blitzes with only three deep defenders can still cover all three levels if linebackers replace the underneath curls quickly, so look for late rotation before the snap to confirm true coverage shell.
Usage Tips
Presnap identify whether the defense is showing a two high shell or single high look, since the deep curl sitting down behind linebackers is money against zone coverage that drops underneath.
Use the flat route from the outside trips WR as a quick answer against a hard blitz look, since it gets the ball out fast before pressure arrives.
If you see man coverage with no safety help over the top, consider hot routing the deep curl into a corner or seam route to attack the space instead of letting the defender sit on the sit down route.
Pair this play with Y-Seam Curl or Four Verticals in your play calling sequence to condition the defense to bite on shorter zone drops, then hit them with a double move variant later in the drive.
Best called on second or third and medium since the sit down routes give the QB layered options between the sticks without needing a shot play.
