Football Library · Plays
High-low read on the flat defender. Outside receiver runs a SHORT curl (~5 yds, settling at the soft spot just past the LBs); slot or back releases to the flat at 0-3 yds. The flat defender can't cover both — sit on one and the QB throws the other.
Curl-Flat Right: curl @ 5yd (high), flat @ 4yd (low) — high-low on the flat defender (5v5: C is the eligible underneath outlet). sit @ 6yd; go @ 18yd to clear.
Call on 2nd-and-medium or 3rd-and-short vs zone underneath — the flat defender can't cover both layers. Avoid vs man press if your outside receiver can't separate at the top of the curl.
Avoid it vs tight man press when the outside receiver can't separate at the top of the curl, and vs two-deep zones with a hard-squatting corner already sitting on the curl-flat level. It moves the sticks — it isn't a chunk play.
Read the flat defender: he widens to the flat, throw the curl behind him; he sinks under the curl, dump the flat fast — it's the cheaper completion. Use the clear-out route to hold the deep third so the curl has room, and take the backside option if the middle opens.
See how Curl-Flat fits into a small package, when to call it, and what to teach before and after it.
