Curl-Flat Made Simple: A Championship Wrinkle Worth Borrowing

Let’s talk about Montana State’s Curl-Flat concept.

This has been one of my favorite film breakdowns because it’s a simple play that I can see helping a lot of coaches across many age levels.

If you’re looking for a pass concept that you can install easily, teach a few practices, and call with confidence, I think this is one of the best ones out there.

Now, Curl-Flat isn’t anything new. Coaches have been running it for years. But Montana State does one little thing differently, and I think this subtle change makes it effective.

It’s one of those small adjustments where you look at it and think, “Why haven’t I been teaching it this way?”

Normally, when we talk about Curl-Flat, it’s pretty straightforward.

Your outside #1 receiver runs a ten-yard curl. I prefer to teach 12 yards back to ten to help with landmarks.

Your slot receiver runs the flat route. Everybody’s probably seen this concept at some point or in some variation.

But Montana State changes one assignment that makes it a dynamic play.

Instead of sending the slot receiver to the flat, they let the running back handle that job.

Now that might not sound like a big deal, but it completely changes what you can do with your slot receiver.

That’s where I think this concept becomes really interesting. Think about who your slot receiver usually is. He’s probably your quickest kid. He’s the guy that can make somebody miss in space.

So why would you send him running sideways to the boundary when you can put the ball right in his hands over the middle of the field?

That’s exactly what Montana State is doing.

They’re creating an easy completion while giving one of their best athletes a chance to make somebody miss.

Sometimes football really is that simple.

The other thing I love is the spacing. When all five eligible receivers finish their routes, the field is stretched beautifully.

You’ve got curls on the outside. You’ve got the running back stretching the defense into the flat.

You’ve got the slot settling right over the football. The curl flat concept is providing the horizontal and vertical stretch everyone talks about.

Now let’s talk about the quarterback.

This is such an easy throw. It is meant to be a 3 step drop but often the QB looks like he is playing pitch and catch backyard football. It’s pretty easy to dump it over the line to the slot receiver. The ball is out quick and it’s great against the blitz.

There’s no dancing around in the pocket waiting for somebody to get open. The quarterback trusts the concept, trusts the spacing, and gets the football out.

Honestly, that’s one of my favorite parts about this play.

The offensive line doesn’t have to block forever because the quarterback isn’t holding onto the football forever.

If the ball is out in under two seconds, pass protection becomes a whole lot easier.

I also think this concept gets even better when defenses start bringing pressure.

Let’s say the middle linebacker is on a blitz. Well, now you’ve created even more room right over the football.

Let’s say an outside linebacker comes. Now somebody has to replace him in coverage. If they don’t, your running back is standing all alone in the flat.

Pressure is supposed to speed up your quarterback.

This concept says, “That’s fine.” “We wanted to throw it quickly anyway.”

That’s why I think it’s such a great answer against aggressive defenses.

One thing I noticed watching Montana State is how disciplined everybody is.

Nobody freelances.

The curl is at ten yards.

The slot knows exactly where he’s settling.

The back gets width immediately.

The quarterback makes quick decisions.

And that’s probably the biggest coaching point I’d take away from this film.

Good offenses don’t always have better plays. They usually have better execution.

If I were installing this with a high school team, I’d tell my players three things.

Trust your landmarks, trust the timing, and don’t make the play harder than it has to be.

The concept already gives you the answer.

That’s why I think this play works at every level. Youth football, JV, Varsity, or College.

The read is simple. The timing is simple. It’s easy to teach and sometimes those are the concepts that stay in your offense for years.

That’s really why I wanted to share this Montana State breakdown. It isn’t because they invented Curl-Flat. They didn’t. It’s because they found a small wrinkle that makes an already great concept even better.

Sometimes the biggest improvements in football aren’t new plays.

They’re small adjustments that help your players play with confidence.

And I think this is one of those adjustments.

If you haven’t looked at using the running back as the flat player and freeing up your slot receiver over the football, I’d encourage you to give it a try.

I think you’ll be surprised how quickly your quarterbacks become comfortable with it.

And more importantly, I think your slot receiver is going to end up touching the football a lot more. Which is great for any offense.