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Breakdown
Curl Flat out of Split Backs Slot shows a two-receiver side and a backside receiver working independently. On the trips side, the outside receiver runs a curl route settling in the intermediate zone while the inside slot receiver releases to the flat, creating a natural high-low stretch on the corner and outside linebacker. The backside single receiver runs a deep vertical route up the boundary, holding the safety and cornerback on that side. The primary read progression starts with the curl route, then works down to the flat if the curl window is closed, with the backside vertical as a shot play if the defense sells out to stop the short combo. This is a classic Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater built on the curl flat combination attacking the flat defender and hook zone defender simultaneously.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat defender at the snap, if he widens immediately to take away the flat route, the user should stay in phase to jump the curl route sitting behind him. Key the hook or curl zone defender's depth, shallow drops leave the curl exposed while deeper drops open a throwing lane to the flat. Against man coverage, the backside vertical route can win over the top if the cornerback lacks safety help, so keep a deep safety shaded to that side. Post-snap, look for lurking linebackers sitting in passing lanes between the curl and flat, since a well-timed nano blitz or spy can disrupt the quarterback's rhythm before he progresses through the reads. If the offense repeatedly hits the flat route, bring pressure off the edge to force a quicker, less accurate throw before the route develops.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the corner is playing off or bailing into a zone drop, since the curl route needs that cushion to sit down in.
Against Cover 2, read the flat defender first because if he widens to the flat receiver, the curl will sit in the soft spot behind him for an easy completion.
Against Cover 3, the corner flat defender is the key, hot route the flat receiver to a quicker option or use him as a checkdown if the underneath zone is clogged.
Use this play on second and medium or third and short situations where the flat and curl combo gives you a high-percentage completion without needing a deep shot.
Pair this with Deep Comeback or Dagger from the same set to keep defenders honest, since both plays sell similar route depths before breaking differently and punish defenders sitting on the curl flat concept.
