Football Library · Plays
Flood· 7v7 Flag
Three receivers stretching ONE SIDE of the field at THREE depths — Corner deep (12-18 yds), Out at the second level (7-10 yds), Flat low (0-4 yds, typically the RB to the flood side). All on the SAME SIDE so the cornerback (high-low) and the flat defender are both stretched. Forces a single underneath defender to pick one. Beats Cover 3 and most rotated zones. Erhardt-Perkins / pro-style staple.
Coaching breakdown
Flood — Three receivers stretching ONE SIDE of the field at THREE depths — Corner deep (12-18 yds), Out at the second level (7-10 yds), Flat low (0-4 yds, typically the RB to the flood side). All on the SAME SIDE so the cornerback (high-low) and the flat defender are both stretched. Forces a single underneath defender to pick one. Beats Cover 3 and most rotated zones. Erhardt-Perkins / pro-style staple. reads Spread Doubles: take the open window — work the progression below in order.
Progression:
- 14-yd corner — back-pylon attack — vacates the curl/flat window for the next read.
- 4-yd flat — low element of the high-low — the throw if the curl defender drops.
- 18-yd go — clear the deep safety; throw if the corner gives a soft shoulder.
- 8-yd out — snap to the sideline — sideline outlet on the corner's leverage.
- 3-yd drag — settle in the underneath window — keep eyes on the QB.
When to call it
Best vs Cover 3 — the three-level stretch puts the deep defender, the curl-flat defender, and the boundary corner each in conflict. Doesn't beat 2-shell coverages with two deep safeties.
Common mistakes
- Routes stack vertically instead of stretching flat-to-deep — one defender can cover them all.
- Deep route runs at the wrong landmark; should be at the numbers, not the hash.
- Flat releases too late; should be the first route to declare so the underneath defender commits.