DIAGRAM 1:Flood Vs. One Safety. If the corner plays bump on Z the QB has the option of throwing deep. The primary read, though, is the flat route. If it is open, hit it immediately. If the flat defender squeezes the flat right, then look to hit Y out of his break on his speed cut. If the coverage is rotated strong, work the backside route.
DIAGRAM 2: Flood Vs. Two Safeties.Same progression, but be careful of the safety robbing the speed out.
RECEIVER ASSIGNMENTS (Base Route):
Play-Side Receiver Z:Runs a take-off (he must release outside the corner).
Play-Side Receiver H:Runs a flat route with a target point of 6 yards on the sideline. This route is hot vs. blitz.
Play-Side Receiver Y:Runs a speed out, starting his cut at 8 yards and rolling to 10 yards.
Backside Receiver X:Runs a slant and is the hot receiver vs. blitz from his side.
Fullback:Runs a check flare to backside.
Hook Route
This is the first variation of the flood series. The receiver routes are constant in the hook variation with the exception of two players.
Play-Side Receiver Z:Runs a 12-yard hook route. The receiver must align with a 12-yard split or less. It’s a problem if he’s too wide, as a flat defender can be in position to expand and play the hook and flat patterns. The hook pattern must be run in a way as to not allow the corner to have the inside seam. Try to create a 3-yard cushion.
Play-Side Receiver Y:Starts his speed cut out, then turns vertical. If the safety is over the top, sits down in front of the defender.,DIAGRAM 5:Angle Route Vs. Single Safety Coverage.
DIAGRAM 6:Angle Route Vs. Double Safety Coverage.
QB Constants
There are two constants that your quarterback needs to remember to make the flood series work at maximum efficiency.
• The QBs drop should be a 5 quick with a depth of 5 1/2 yards.
• If the flat is open, get the flat receiver the ball.,DIAGRAM 3: Hook Vs. One Safety.The QB should read the flat defender and throw the flat route. If the flat route isn’t there, QB reads the hook.
DIAGRAM 4: Hook Vs. Two Safeties.
Angle Route
This is the second variation of the flood series.,By Paul Miller, Former Head Coach, St. Olaf College and Apple Valley High School, Burnsville, Minn.
THIS THREE-PLAY SERIES is the flood series out of a 3-by-1 formation and is predicated on two principles.
1. Making the defense cover your flat route. If your flat route can out-flank the defender, that’s where your quarterback will be throwing.
2. Your three routes must look the same for the first 3 to 4 yards. Past 3 to 4 yards, stretch the defense horizontally or present the threat of a horizontal stretch, but run radical direction changes off the threat.
Base Routes
The base route (flood) is designed to stretch the defense horizontally.
