Flat Route: How to Run the 1 and Why Defenses Have to Respect It

How to run the flat route

1. 1

   Release fast

   Come off the ball at full speed with a quick, vertical release so the defender has to respect you upfield for a moment.

2. 2

   Break for width

   Turn toward the sideline and gain width. You are trying to get outside the defender who has the flat, not to get deep.

3. 3

   Hands up early

   Find the quarterback as soon as you widen and get your hands up, because in the quick game the ball can come right away.

4. 4

   Catch and turn north

   Catch it in stride on your front shoulder, then drop step with your sideline foot and get upfield.

Who runs the 1

Any receiver can run a flat; backs and slots often do. Bowen's route tree says it is usually run from inside the numbers by a slot receiver, a tight end or a running back. In his National Football Post version of the tree he adds that you will also see it from the outside receiver when that receiver lines up in a reduced split, closer to the ball.

The diagram on this page shows that outside version: the X receiver lined up 12 yards from the left sideline. It is the Play Designer's default drawing, one straight diagonal line about 8 yards toward the sideline that ends 1.5 yards deep, and the tool's one-line label calls it a bubble out to the sideline under everything. Treat that as a simple starting picture, not the technique. The coaching on this page follows Bowen: a quick, vertical release, then the break to the flat. Your coach sets the real depth and shape. Because backs and tight ends get this route so often, it belongs in running back and tight end practice as much as in wide receiver work.

The flat as bait: two high-low reads

Bowen calls the flat the one route that keeps showing up in combinations: slant-flat, curl-flat, flat-7. It rarely works alone. It pairs with a route above it so that one defender has to choose. In his slant-flat breakdown against Cover 2, the flat runner takes a short stem off the line and cuts outside, and the quarterback reads the cornerback. The corner is taught to widen to the flat, which opens the slant. If the corner chases the slant inside instead, the flat the corner left is open.

Against Cover 3, the defender to beat is the curl-to-flat player; in Bowen's example that is the strong safety or the Will linebacker. Bowen describes that drop as 45 degrees to 10 to 12 yards, holding off the curl, then driving to the flat. If that defender hangs on the curl, the quarterback throws the flat. If that defender jumps the flat early, the curl opens. In the Sail concept the same idea moves up a level: the offense wants the safety to jump the back in the flat so the corner route over the safety is open. Either way, your job is width, fast, so the read is clean for the quarterback.

Catching on the run and getting upfield

Speed matters more than polish here. Tim Horton's route tips in the coaching book Complete Running Back say to use speed and acceleration to start the play, especially on outside routes like the wheel or the flat. The ball should meet you in stride. The Scouting Academy's rule for a receiver in the open field is a throw on the front shoulder so you keep your momentum and gain yards after the catch.

Get your hands up as soon as you turn to the quarterback, because Horton points out that a quick throw finds them ready. After the catch, turn upfield instead of drifting toward the sideline. Horton's cue is to drop step with the foot closest to the boundary so your hips turn and you can run straight upfield. Rep the release and the turn inside the route tree drill.

Pass concepts that use the flat

Plays in the Play Designer's concept library with a flat in them. Open one to see the whole play and edit your own copy.

• Flood (Sail)Three levels to one side: go, corner, flat.Open
• Y-CrossTE crosses deep behind linebackers with a vertical clearing.Open
• StickTE option stem with a flat: read the first defender inside.Open
• SnagCorner, snag, flat triangle on one defender.Open
• Curl-FlatCurl over a flat: simple high-low on the flat defender.Open
• Slant-FlatQuick slant with a flat: fast answer to man and blitz.Open
• SpacingFive-across short routes spread the underneath defenders.Open

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