PLAY BREAKDOWN: Atlanta Falcons Run Curl-Flat Concept

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics
By James Taglienti | Last updated 7/6/22

The curl-flat concept is a pretty basic passing concept run at all levels of football, from high school to the pro ranks. Also known as the Hank Concept, the Curl-Flat is a two-man route attacking the flat defender. When run correctly, the flat defender is put into a bind where he is forced to make a decision, and whatever decision he makes is wrong.

Curl-Flat Concept

The curl-flat concept involves an inside receiver and an outside receiver, so it is can be run from virtually any personnel group. The inside receiver runs a flat to the sideline and the outside receiver runs a curl route. Whoever the flat defender is has to decide if they want to drop to cover the curl or float to cover the flat. If they cover the flat, the QB hits the curl, if they cover the curl, the QB hits the flat.

When the Falcons faced the Washington Football Club on October 3 last season, they run the curl-flat concept but tagged on a post route over the top. Washington ran a Cover 1 defense so the Post route was there to attack the single high safety.

Atlanta is in 12 personnel, Kyle Pitts on the left is running the curl route. Prior to the snap, Calvin Ridley goes in fly motion and as the ball is snapped passes in front of Matt Ryan for a fake fly sweep. Ridley runs to the field flat. Mike Davis passes in front of Ryan for the play-action and runs a flat route to the boundary. Davis’ flat route passes through Pitt’s curl route. On the field side, Cordarrelle Patterson runs the post route.

Executing The Play

When the Falcons ran the play, Pitts’ curl route has the desired effect. The boundary corner drops to cover him leaving Davis’ flat route open. The lone safety is distracted by Pitts’ curl route, and actually comes down to cover him. To the field side, Patterson runs his post route and the corner lets him go, thinking the safety has him. That was a mistake.

#MattyIce️ goes DEEP to CP!

: FOX | @ceeflashpee84 pic.twitter.com/trfhmdU0i8

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) October 3, 2021

Ryan hits Patterson on the post for an uncontested 42 yard touchdown. The curl-flat concept worked but the post route was wide open. A quarterback usually reads the concept side, but Ryan was reading deep to short on this play, and it paid off. The curl-flat is a simple concept, and it was a touchdown-maker for the Falcons against Washington last Fall.

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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