Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Y-Seam Curl comes out of Singleback Y Trips with three receivers bunched to the trips side and a single receiver backside. The backside X runs a corner route breaking outside vertically, the tight end splits the seam up the middle as the primary vertical stem, and the trips side stacks a curl route underneath with an out breaking receiver crossing the field to the flat area. This is a zone beater by design since the seam and curl combo works to stretch middle linebackers and hi lo the flat to intermediate zone defenders, with the primary read progression starting on the seam route up the gut before working to the curl sitting down in the void.
Defensive Reads
Watch the middle linebacker depth at the snap since a linebacker sitting shallow will jump the curl and open the seam window behind him. Identify single high safety looks pre snap because the seam route can split the difference between the deep safety and underneath zone defenders. Key on user controlled defenders spying the middle of the field, since a lurking user linebacker or safety can undercut the seam throw and bait a turnover. Cover 3 zone drops with a hard flat defender will take away the curl but often leave the seam wide open behind the flat defender's drop. Man coverage on the tight end with no safety help over the top is the biggest liability this play exploits, since the seam becomes a shot play against man beaters with no deep support.
Usage Tips
Check the middle of the field pre snap to see if a linebacker or safety is sitting in the seam lane before the snap since that defender determines whether the seam window is open.
Attack Tampa 2 and single high shells by hitting the seam route quickly before the deep safety can rotate over to help.
If you see man coverage on the tight end, hot route him into a skinny post to create separation instead of running the flat seam into a trailing defender.
Use this play on second and medium to third and short situations where zone defenses are more likely to sit back and protect against explosive plays.
Pair this call with Curls Combo or Four Verticals in the same drive to condition the defense into sitting on shallow zones, then hit the seam for an explosive gain when they bite.
