Corner Flats - High/Lo Concept

Concept:

The Gun Split Y Flex Corner Strike is an excellent play to use to attack just about any pass pass coverage in the game. With both the SE (X) and FL (B) running corner routes and the HB (Y) and HB2 (LB) running flat routes, you have a Corner Flats High Low Isolation passing concept.

Offensive Play Used:

Pass Routes:

FL (B) - Corner with inside release
SE (X) - Corner with inside release
TE (A) - Dig ( but we hot route him on a streak)
HB (Y) - Flat
HB2 (LB) - Flat

How the Concept Works on the Field:

By default the TE lines up in the slot. He is running a dig route. Against any type of man coverage, his route is very effective. The SE and FL both run corner routes. Against Cover 1, Cover 2 man, Cover 2 zone, and some Cover 3 coverages they will be open. The HB and FB run flat routes. They are open against man, and soft zone coverage defense.

However, if he is hot routed on a streak, he will be able to attack the safeties deep and draw pass coverage away from the FL running the corner route.

We like to motion him to the left for a few reasons.

1. It allows us to read if man or zone coverage is called in most cases.
2. It allows him to get off the line of scrimmage if zone coverage is called without being jammed.
3. It forces the defense to adjust to the motion.

Vs Cover 1

Objective:

By hot routing the TE on a streak and then sending him motion to the right, he will keep the safety playing deep from rolling towards the SE running the corner route.

Reads Vs Cover 1:

1. SE (X) - Look for him once he breaks to the corner. Manually take control of him and get in front of the RCB. This holds true even against bump-n-run man coverage. The only difference is it may take him a second longer run his pass route.
2. HB (Y) - If a blitz is called or the defensive line is able to get pressure, look to dump the ball off to the HB in the flat.
3. HB2 (Y) - Look for the HB2 as your third option running the flat route to the right.
4. FL (B) - This player running a corner route is our fourth option. However, we make look to throw him a quick pass as he breaks to the inside before running the corner portion of his route.
5. TE (A) - The TE is more or less a decoy. We want him to draw the safety playing the deep zone over the middle away from the SE. Only throw to him if the coverage is totally blown.

The defensive coverage is Dime Cover 1. The FS plays the deep middle of the field, while the MLB plays a hook zone. There are five defenders in man coverage, while the D-Linemen rush the QB.

Notice the HB and HB2 are both open in the flat. They won’t be always this open.

Once the SE breaks to the corner, we throw a bullet pass and lead him outside by pressing hard left on the left stick.

We make the catch for a 20 yard pick up.

Vs Cover 2 Man

Objective:

The same objective that we used to attack Cover 1 is used the same to attack Cover 2 when running the Corner Flats High Low Isolation. The only difference is we force the FS to cover the TE deep since he is playing even further over towards the TE.

Reads Vs Cover 2 Man:

1. SE (X) - Look for him once he breaks to the corner. Manually take control of him and get in front of the RCB. This holds true even against bump-n-run man coverage. The only difference is it may take him a second longer to run his pass route.
2. HB (Y) - If a blitz is called or the defensive line is able to get pressure, look to dump the ball off to the HB in the flat.
3. HB2 (Y) - Look for the HB2 as your third option.
4. FL (B) - The player running a corner route is our fourth option. However we make look to throw him a quick pass as he breaks to the inside before running the corner portion of his route.
5. TE (A) - The TE is more or less a decoy. We want him to draw the FS playing the deep left 1/2 zone away from the SE. Only throw to him if the coverage is totally blown.

The Cover 2 Man coverage called is Dollar Normal 2 Man Under. The FS and SS split out wide in 2 deep coverage. The MLB is sent in on a blitz from the right. Five defenders play man coverage underneath. All three defensive linemen rush the QB.

Notice the TE holds the FS and prevents from getting any closer to the SE.

Just like against Cover 1, we throw a hard bullet pass to the SE by leading him outside.

We want to make sure we shield the RCB from making any type of break on the ball.

Vs Cover 2 Zone

Objective:

When Cover 2 Zone coverage is called, the backs running flat routes are not going to be open since the RCB and LCB play the flats. What will be open is the corner routes ran by the SE and FL . The TE running the seam route is also an option. He also will force the FS to drop further away from SE.

Reads Vs Cover 2 Zone:

1. SE (X) - Once he breaks to the corner, he will be open. Watch for the FS, if he has speed, he will close in quickly. The pass has to be thrown with a bullet pass and must be throw outside by pressing hard left on the Left Thumbstick to have any chance of being completed.
2. TE (Y) -Look for him down the seam. Once he clears the underneath zone coverage he will be open for a bullet pass. The pass must be thrown to the inside between the safeties and over the top of the zone coverage.
3. FL (B) - Despite him running a corner route, he may not be open since no receiver draws the SS away from him. If you make this throw you must take control of the FL and get in front of the SS.
4. HB (Y) - Against Cover 2 Zone, the HB is not going to be open in the flat. If you see that your opponent likes to run a lot of Cover 2, consider hot routing him on a curl route. He will be open underneath the zone coverage. Plus the defender playing hook zones on his side will come up closer to defend him. This will leave the TE that much more open on his seam route.
5. HB2 (LB) - Same goes for the HB2, he won’t be open in the flat. There are two things you can consider doing with him against Cover 2 coverage. He can be hot routed to pass block or hot routed on a curl route to give you another option to throw underneath.

The Cover 2 Zone defense called is Dollar Cover 2. Both the safeties split out wide and cover the deep halves of the field. There are 6 defenders playing underneath zone coverage. The LCB and RCB play the flats, while the four defenders drop in hook zones. There is a 3 three man pass rush.

The FS will cheat towards the TE.

Instead of throwing to the SE, we decide to throw to the TE. When making this throw, we want to throw towards the middle of the field by leading the TE to the inside.

We make the catch deep down the field.

Vs Cover 3

Objective:

Cover 3 coverage is a little more difficult to beat than Cover 2 Zone. Mainly because only two receivers are really open. That’s the SE and FL running corner routes. The SE will be more open than the FL only because the TE will draw the RCB inside some. Another factor that Cover 3 presents is in some of the Cover 3 defenses, defenders drop back in buzz (purple) zones. If they do, it makes it virtually impossible to complete it to one of the receivers running the corner routes. We will look at how to attack that type of coverage when we show Alternate Primary Reads Vs Cover 3 Zone.

Reads Vs Cover 3

1. SE (X) - Once he breaks to the corner, he will be open. Watch for the RCB to see how far he goes inside. The further he goes inside. The more open the SE will be.
2. FL (B) - He is open, but the pass window is not as big as it is for the SE.
3. TE (A) - Not open.
4. HB (Y) - Not open.
5. HB2 (LB) - Not open.

The Dollar Normal Cover 3 defense does a pretty good job against the Corner Flats High Low Isolation passing concept. With three defenders dropping back in 3 deep zone and 6 underneath defenders this is a solid defense to call against most deep pass plays in the game.

Notice in the screen shot, the RCB cheats towards the TE.

This leaves the SE open once he breaks to the corner. We throw a bullet pass hard to the left by pressing the Left Thumbstick to the 9 o’clock position.

We make the catch for a 20 yard pick up.

Alternate Patterns Vs Cover 3 Zone

Concept:

Cover 3 coverages where defenders drop back in buzz (purple) zones is hard for the Corner Flats High Low Isolation passing concept to beat. With defenders dropping into buzz zones the SE and FL won’t be open once they break to the corner. If you see your opponent running this type of pass coverage, you have to make adjustments before the snap for this pass concept or audible into another play that beats it. The best way to attack this coverage is over the middle areas of the field. We like to hot route the HB on a curl route, and hot route the HB2 to pass block.

Reads Vs Cover 3

1. HB (X) - HB runs a curl route. Will be open underneath once he curls back.
2. TE (A) - There is small window of opportunity to throw a bullet pass to the TE about 12-15 yards down the field.
3. SE (A) - Not open if he runs a corner route. Hot route him on a streak or fade. If you can rocket catch, you can get him the ball.
4. FL (Y) - Not open if he runs a corner route. Hot route him on a streak or fade. If you can rocket catch, you can get him the ball.
5. HB2 (LB) - He is left in to pass block.

Nickel 3-3-5 Cover 3 does a great job at taking away plays where receivers run corner routes. The NB and SS drop in buzz zones. Only one defender plays a hook zone. That’s why this defense is weak against passes over the short middle of the field. Both ROLB and LOLB play the flats. The RCB, FS, and SS drop back in three deep pass coverage. Only 3 pass rushers rush the QB so there should be some time in the pocket.

At any point when the HB goes out, we throw him a bullet pass.

In the screen shot, we throw to him as he curls back.

We make the catch and pick up 7 yards.

Vs Cover 4

Objective:

The Corner Flats High Low Isolation passing concept works pretty good against Cover 4. Obviously the flats are going to be left wide open. However the corner routes can also be open even if defenders drop in buzz zones, but the pass window isn’t very big. We will explain why this is in just a bit.

Reads Vs Cover 4:

1. HB (Y) - Look for the HB in the left first. He will be open for a quick pass. Look to pick up 5-7 yards.
2. HB2 (LB) - He is also open in the flat on the right.
3. SE (X) - He is open, but not for very long. When he breaks to the corner, see how far up the underneath defender is. If he is playing up near the HB, throw to the SE.
4. FL (B) - Very hard to complete a pass to him. You are better off hot routing him on a drag. If do this, the HB2 may not be as open in the right flat. If you can rocket catch, you can beat this coverage with a tall receiver or receiver who can get up in the air. Consider sending the FL on a streak or fade.
5. TE (A) - Unless the pass coverage is blown, the TE won’t be open at all.

Dollar Normal Cover 4 is very hard to throw on deep down the sideline or over the middle. With four defenders playing four across and two defenders playing buzz zones, it’s one of the better deep zone coverages in the game.

In the screen shot above, you can see that the flats are left wide open. This makes for an easy read. Unless you have to go deep to pick up a first down, why force it deep when you can pick up 5-7 yards underneath?

We throw to the HB in the flat on the left.

We make the catch and have room to run up the field.

Key Notes:

• One of most versatile passing plays out of the Gun Split Y. If the reads are made right, it can beat pretty much any pass coverage in the game.
• If your opponent runs all coverage, look to still go deepto the SE running the corner route as long as no defender drops in a buzz in his area.
• The TE will be open against Cover 2 Zone, but not against Cover 2 Buc (Tampa 2)..
• Consider hot routing the backs on curls routes to beat just about any zone coverage.
• The corner routes ran by the SE or FL are also known as backward C routes because the receivers take an inside release. Against man coverage, they may be open for quick pass as they break inside.