Playbooks
Breakdown
Curl Flat out of Strong I Slot lines up two backs and a slot receiver with a TE in-line, showing run-heavy personnel before releasing into a classic 2-man route combo to one side. The backside receiver runs a vertical release into a curl, sitting down around 12 to 15 yards, while the receiver next to him works underneath to the flat, creating a natural high-low stretch on the corner and outside linebacker. This is a zone beater designed to attack Cover 2 and Cover 3 by putting a defender in conflict between the flat and the curl window, with the primary read progression starting at the curl and working down to the flat if the underneath defender sinks deep.
Defensive Reads
Identify two deep safeties pre-snap, Cover 2 shells are the primary target for this concept since the curl sits right in the seam between the corner and safety. Watch the flat defender at the snap, if he stays wide to jump the flat route the quarterback should be reading the curl as the first option. Beware of Cover 3 sky or buzz looks where a safety rotates down to take away the flat, this can shut down the underneath option and force the quarterback into the curl only. User the underneath linebacker or nickel defender to sit in the passing lane and jump the curl route, taking away the primary read and forcing a checkdown. Man coverage with no help over the top is the biggest counter to this play, since neither route has a natural separation move built in against tight man coverage.
Usage Tips
Diagnose the coverage shell pre-snap by checking safety depth, two deep safeties with a squatting corner signals Cover 2 and this play is built to punish it.
Read the flat defender first at the snap, if he widens with the flat route the curl will have room to settle in the soft spot between the corner and linebacker.
Use this play on second and medium or third and short situations where the defense is likely to sit in zone shells rather than bring pressure.
Hot route the backside receiver into a quick out or drag if you diagnose man coverage pre-snap, since the base concept is built strictly for zone.
Pair this call with Double Slant or Bubble Screen in your play-calling sequence to keep defenders honest against both quick game and the curl flat stretch.
