Routes

RB or slot releases on a CLEAN DIAGONAL toward the flat at a shallow angle (~25° from horizontal). Mostly lateral with a small upfield component — in tackle football it finishes ~2-3 yds deep and ~10 yds out. No break, no settle. Outlet for the QB and a natural high-low partner with a sit/curl over the top.

Receiver releases BACKWARD and outside in a ROUNDED banana arc — apex is 2-3 yds behind the LOS — then arcs forward toward the sideline to catch a quick lateral pass. The deep apex is what makes this a BUBBLE (vs a now screen, which catches at the LOS). Other receivers block downfield. Common RPO tag and quick-perimeter answer.

Vertical 12-13 yards then a ROUNDED break back at ~45° toward the sideline, settling at ~10 yds depth (route tree #5). 'Comeback' refers to coming back DOWN in depth, not toward the QB — it's a sideline route. Stops the clock. Defender must drive forward — comeback wins on the cushion.

Vertical 11-12 yards then a SHARP 45°-above-horizontal break outside toward the back pylon (route tree #7). Beats Cover 2 (corner sits flat) and Cover 4 (corner stays inside on outside #1). Often the high in a smash concept.

Deep crossing (over) route — receiver releases vertically for roughly 3 yards, then bends smoothly inside and keeps gaining depth while running across the formation, typically arriving 12-18 yards downfield on the opposite side. Unlike a Dig, the Cross has no hard 90-degree square-in break; its base path keeps climbing instead of immediately becoming a horizontal line. Unlike a Drag, it is an intermediate-to-deep cross rather than a shallow one. The landmark is coverage-aware rather than a rigid rail: stair-step more vertically over underneath leverage, snap flatter beneath top-down coverage, or settle in an open zone window while preserving the route's cross-field intent. It is the defining route in Y-Cross and the intermediate crosser in boot/Waggle concepts; its moving target is a strong answer to man coverage and pursuit flowing away from it.

Vertical stem then a ROUNDED ~180° turn back toward the QB, settling in a soft spot in the zone (route tree #6). Depth varies by use: a traditional pro-style Curl runs 10-12 yds vertical and settles at ~9 yds; SHORT Curls (5-7 yds vertical, settling at ~5 yds) work underneath in Curl-Flat / Flood concepts. Any depth from 4 to 13 yards can fit the route, so a 7-yard curl is the short variant rather than a deviation. The break is a smooth turn-back, NOT a sharp corner — receiver decelerates, faces the QB, and finishes with a slight inside lean toward the middle. Reliable vs zone — find the window between defenders.

Vertical 12-15 yards then a SHARP 90° break to the inside (toward the QB / middle), finishing across the middle (route tree #4). Beats man and zone — sits in the window between LB depth and safety depth. Foundation of dig-post and levels concepts.

Shallow crossing route — receiver takes a 1-yard inside release then crosses the formation on a SMOOTH NEARLY-HORIZONTAL ARC at 2-4 yds depth (usually ~3 yds; in a mesh the OVER-drag rides slightly deeper, to ~5-6 yds, to clear the under-drag with ~1 yd of vertical separation). The cross itself is at a very shallow angle (~2-3° from horizontal) — the receiver gains essentially no depth as he travels laterally; he is NOT climbing diagonally and the path is NOT a rigid straight line. Keep the cross horizontal and visibly clear of the LOS rather than crowding it against the line. Foundation of mesh, drive, and shallow-cross concepts. Beats man coverage — the defender has to fight through traffic that the offense's other routes generate underneath.

Vertical release with a ROUNDED outside arc toward the sideline (no hard break). Ball thrown back-shoulder or up-and-away. Red-zone staple — defender can't recover when the throw is placed up-and-away. Usually a tall WR vs a short DB.

Receiver releases on a NEARLY HORIZONTAL path directly to the sideline at 0-2 yds depth — gains very little depth as he travels laterally (the route is FLAT — that's literally the name). Common RB or slot route paired with a curl/corner/sit over the top to high-low the flat defender. The path may arc slightly as the receiver flattens out from the snap angle, but it should NEVER read as a steep climbing diagonal.

Straight vertical sprint downfield (route tree #9). No break — full-speed release, accelerate upfield, ball thrown over the top. Stretches the defense vertically. Best vs single-high coverage with no deep help.

5-yard vertical release then a ROUNDED quick turn back toward the QB, settling at 4-5 yds with a slight inside lean (route tree #1). The turn-back is a smooth settle, not a sharp corner. Beats off-coverage instantly. Quick-game staple.

7-yd vertical release then a ROUNDED U-turn hooking back inside (toward the QB/middle), settling at 3-4 yds depth with the receiver facing inside. The receiver reverses direction — unlike a Curl which turns back to the QB, the Hook In finishes with momentum toward the inside. Beats off-man coverage and zone defenders who widen with the stem.

7-yd vertical release then a ROUNDED U-turn hooking back outside (toward the sideline), settling at 3-4 yds depth. The receiver reverses direction back toward the sideline. Beats off-coverage corners who stop retreating — the receiver comes back to them. Strong boundary route and clock-stopper.

Vertical 8 yards then a SHARP 90° break to the inside (toward the QB / middle of the field). Shallower than a Dig — sits in front of the LBs / under the safeties. Common quick-game intermediate vs zone.

Vertical 10 yards then a SHARP 90° break toward the sideline (route tree #3). Stops the clock — common late-game call. Vulnerable to a jumping cornerback if undisguised.

Sell the quick out at 5 yds, then SHARPLY break vertical up the sideline. Beats corners who jump outs. Effective on the boundary.

Vertical 8 yards (stem) then a SHARP 45°-above-horizontal break inside toward the goalpost / middle of the field, ball arriving around 11 yards (route tree #8). Beats single-high (Cover 1, Cover 3) when the safety bites, and beats Cover 2 between the safeties. Pair with a deep crosser to clear the safety. **Lowered 2026-05-25 from a 11-yd-break / 15-yd-catch default** so the route fits flag football's shorter field horizons; concepts that need a true deep post (Levels, Y-Cross, etc.) still get the longer shape by setting `depthYds` explicitly (14-18).

4-yd vertical stem then a SHARP inside cut across the middle at roughly 45° — catches at 4-5 yds depth. Inside mirror of the Quick Out. Beats off-man coverage with a quick inside release. Gets the ball out fast vs pressure. Common quick-game slot route.

5-yard out — vertical then SHARP 90° break to the sideline at full speed (no break-down). Catches at 4-5 yds. Beats off-man, stops the clock, gets the ball out fast vs pressure.

Vertical sprint from a slot or TE alignment, splitting the deep safeties. No hard break — slight inside release, then sustained vertical. Beats Cover 2 (gap between safeties) and Cover 4 (vertical the safety can't carry). Foundation route in 4 verts.

Vertical stem to 5-6 yards, then a small ROUNDED settle facing the QB (the receiver stops and turns back). Foundation of the stick concept (with a flat underneath and a clear over the top). Quick-game staple, 3rd-and-medium reliable.

Vertical 10 yards then a SHALLOW inside break (~70° above horizontal — much closer to vertical than a true 45° post). Beats Cover 3 between the corner and the deep middle safety. Common as the pass option in inside-zone RPOs.

3-yard vertical stem then a SHARP 25°-above-horizontal cut across the middle (angle measured from horizontal — mostly lateral with a shallow upfield lean, NOT a steep vertical-leaning break). Catches at 5-6 yds depth, having gained 5-7 yds laterally (route tree #2). Beats press man (inside leverage fast) and Cover 2 (slant fits between underneath defenders).

Receiver releases inside on a slight angle, then SETTLES with a small ROUNDED turn-back facing the QB at 5-6 yds depth in a soft spot in the zone. The settle is what defines this route — it is NOT a clean diagonal that ends; the receiver finishes by stopping and squaring up to the QB so he's a ready target. More deliberate than a hitch (longer angled release, deeper sit). Often the inside route in a snag concept (with corner over and flat under).

Stem 5 yds, fake the hitch (small ROUNDED settle), then release vertical at full speed. Beats off-coverage corners who break aggressively on the hitch. Same family as sluggo (slant-and-go).

RB or slot releases flat to the sideline (~3 yds depth, ~6 yds out), then ROUNDS UP and runs vertical along the sideline (the rounded turnup is the wheel). Beats LBs in man coverage who can't run with a back. Common pair with a deep crosser to clear the safety.

Receiver fakes outward (like a quick out) for 3-5 yards, then SHARPLY whips back inside on a slant angle. Misdirection — beats man when defender bites on the out fake. The 'whip' refers to the inside snap-back, finishing toward the QB.

5-yd vertical stem, then a SHARP break to the outside (~3-4 yds lateral), then a SECOND SHARP break continuing upfield and back inside toward the QB. Creates a Z-shape — the receiver crosses toward the sideline before breaking back to the middle. Beats man coverage (double-move forces the defender to change direction twice). Finishes ~12-13 yds deep inside.

5-yd vertical stem, then a SHARP break to the inside (~3-4 yds lateral), then a SECOND SHARP break continuing upfield and back outside. Creates a Z-shape — the receiver crosses toward the middle before breaking back toward the sideline. Beats man coverage (double-move forces the defender to change direction twice). Finishes ~12-13 yds deep outside.