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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Curl Combo out of Weak I Pro (21 personnel) shows a three level stretch to the field with a deep clear route from the backside X. The outside receiver to the trips-lite side runs a vertical seam to hold the safety while the inline TE settles into a shallow curl/hook underneath the linebackers, and the flanker to that same side works a corner route stemming vertical then breaking outside. The backside X takes the top off the defense on a deep drive route across the formation, and the offensive line shows a straight dropback pass protection look. This is a zone beater built to attack the curl-flat and hook zones with layered depth, and the primary read progression goes vertical seam to corner route first, then works down to the TE curl sitting in the window underneath.
Defensive Reads
Check the cornerback depth pre-snap on the field side: press or tight coverage signals man, which means you should key the user defender's leverage on the corner route before throwing it. Watch the middle linebacker depth at the snap, since a shallow drop means he can undercut the TE curl route and take away that underneath window. Identify two-high safety shells before the snap, because Cover 2 or Cover 4 looks invite you to work the corner route into the deep outside void where the cornerback has to choose between the flat and the corner. Post-snap, track any user-controlled defender flying to the flat or curl zone, since that lurk technique is designed to bait the quarterback into the shallow read while the corner route stays open behind him. This play struggles against aggressive man press concepts with no deep safety help, so if you see Cover 0 or Cover 1 with press corners, be ready to hot route or check down quickly instead of forcing the deep corner route.
Usage Tips
Use this on second and medium to second and long when you expect zone coverage like Cover 3 or Cover 2, since the curl and corner combo is designed to sit in the soft spots of those shells.
Read the deep safety pre-snap: if he rotates late or shows two-high, prioritize the corner route to the field since it should have leverage on a cornerback playing zone drop technique.
Hot route the backside X's deep drive route to a comeback or hitch if you see man coverage with no safety help over the top, since the drive concept is more of a zone-clear route than a true man beater.
Pair this play with Skinny Posts or Frogs Skinny Posts in your play-calling sequence so the defense has to respect vertical shots off similar formation looks, setting up the curl combo as a change of pace.
Use PA Boot or PA Boot Lt earlier in a series to get linebackers biting on run action, which opens up the TE curl route sitting in the hook zone for an easy completion.
