Use three-level passing to create mismatches and stretch defenses vertically and horizontally.
Football is a game of space, and few concepts stretch a defense quite like the flood concept. By attacking three different depths of the field—deep, intermediate, and short—this passing concept forces defenders into lose-lose situations. When executed properly, flood turns a simple route combination into a dynamic weapon for any offense.
Flood isn’t just a play—it’s a multiplier. It takes what you already do and expands it, giving your quarterback layered options with clear reads.
This concept works in any offensive system, from Air Raid to West Coast to Pro-Style. Whether you want to create explosive plays, open up underneath routes, or disguise tendencies, the flood concept should be a staple in your passing game.
What is the Flood Concept in Football?
The flood concept places three receivers on one side of the field, each at a different level:
- Deep Route (Vertical/Go or Corner) – Stretches the defense vertically.
- Intermediate Route (Deep Out or Sail) – Attacks the soft spot between levels.
- Short Route (Flat, Drag, or Quick Hitch) – Forces a defender to declare early.
By overloading one side of the field, defenses often don’t have enough defenders to cover all three routes. If they’re in zone coverage, the quarterback reads the flat defender—if he drops, throw underneath; if he steps up, hit the deep out. If it’s man coverage, the horizontal stretch creates separation, making the intermediate or short route a high-percentage throw.
Why Flood Concepts Work Against Zone and Man Coverage
Defenses at every level—from high school to the NFL—struggle to cover all three levels of the field simultaneously. Here’s why:
- Against Zone: The QB reads one defender to determine where the soft spot is.
- Against Man: The spacing forces defenders to chase, creating natural separation.
- Against Pressure: Flood pairs well with max protection to give the QB a clean pocket.
The reason flood works regardless of system is that defenses still have the same rules. If you force them to cover three levels with two defenders, you’ve won before the ball is even thrown.
How to Teach the Flood Concept to Your Quarterback
For flood to be effective, the quarterback must process coverage quickly. The best approach is a simple progression read:
- Pre-Snap: Identify coverage—zone or man.
- First Read: Deep route—if there’s no safety help, take the shot.
- Second Read: Intermediate route—if the flat defender drops, throw it.
- Third Read: Checkdown—if the defense covers deep, take the easy yards.
Using Play-Action to Enhance the Flood Concept
One of the best ways to maximize flood is to pair it with play-action. This forces linebackers to hesitate, widening the throwing lanes for the intermediate and deep routes.
When you can hold the linebackers with a run fake and then stretch the secondary, that’s when flood really becomes a game-changer. You’re pulling one guy in, pushing another guy out, and that intermediate route just pops.
How to Install Flood in Your Offense
Here’s how to implement the flood concept successfully:
1. Use Formation Variation
Running the same concept from multiple formations keeps defenses guessing. You can run flood from:
- 2×2 Spread (Motion to Trips)
- 3×1 Trips Formation
- Under Center Play-Action Look
2. Incorporate Motion
Using pre-snap motion to bring a receiver into the flood route progression forces defenses to adjust on the fly, creating mismatches.
3. Teach the Quarterback a Clear Read Progression
Whether you use a front-to-back, deep-to-short, or key defender read, make sure the quarterback knows exactly where to go with the football.
4. Pair It with Other Concepts
Flood naturally complements other core passing game concepts, including:
Building Off Existing Concepts:
- Flood isn’t just a play—it’s a multiplier. It takes what you already do and expands it, giving your quarterback layered options with clear reads.
- So if you are in the West Coast offense and you run a lot of shallow crosses, if you’re in the Air Raid and you run a lot of meshes, these things… flood allows you to build off of things that are already in your offense.
Flood + Vertical Choice:
- When we get people running vertical choice with options like the Briles system, we get people pushing up the field and start reading… It creates real value in not only throwing those but then using those to clear out.
- When you can hold the linebackers with a run fake and then stretch the secondary, that’s when flood really becomes a game-changer. You’re pulling one guy in, pushing another guy out, and that intermediate route just pops.
Using Formation Variation to Hide Concepts:
- You can mix and match these things so you can give different presentations… But the look for the defense is different.
Drills for Quarterbacks to Master Flood Concept Reads
If your QB can’t read the flood concept properly, it won’t work. Here are drills to reinforce the reads:
- Progression Read Drill – Rapid-fire decision-making from deep-to-short.
- Moving Target Drill – Throw on the run to hit flood patterns on bootlegs.
- Blitz Recognition Drill – Train QBs to hit the hot read vs. pressure.
Final Thoughts: Why Every Offense Needs the Flood Concept
Flood isn’t just another play—it’s a foundational passing concept that works in every system.
- It creates natural mismatches in zone and man coverage.
- It pairs well with play-action and quick game.
- It forces defenses to defend all three levels, stretching them thin.
If you’re not using flood in your offense—or not maximizing it—you’re leaving points on the board.
Learn the Flood Concept
Coach Gonzalez shares the latest updates on an essential complimentary pass structure – the FLOOD game. With almost 4 HOURS of content in this deep dive, he discusses it’s place in an overall structure, gives a 30-minute refresher on the A.C.T.S. reading systems, and discusses different actions/protections for both Inside and Outside floods. Coach G then takes you through his playbook, where he gives coaching points for all the flood tags, followed by the latest additions to his video directory. This is then backed up with additional variations to stimulate different ideas. Last, he takes you through his installation, practice, and game planning guides with respect to the overall system. (3hours and 51 minutes).
