---
title: "Sail Concept Explained: Three Levels to One Side"
description: "Sail attacks one side of the field with three routes at three depths. How the concept is built, why it beats Cover 3 and how the quarterback reads it."
url: https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/concepts/sail/
---

passing concept

# Sail Concept

Sail is a three-level concept (many playbooks call it a flood): three receivers attack one side of the field at three levels to outnumber the defenders responsible for that side.

![Sail passing concept diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/sail.webp)

## How Sail Is Built

Crucible's Sail sends a deep pogo route to carry the corner and safety, a sail breaking toward the sideline at 12 yards, and an option route at about 6 yards. Against two defenders to that side, one level is always open.

## What Sail Beats

- Cover 3: the post safety and the defender under the sail cannot cover three levels at once.
- Cover 2 Tampa, with the sail landing in the sideline hole behind the corner.
- Rotating coverages that roll away from the Sail side.

## How the QB Reads It

Read high to low: the deep defender first, then the defender under the sail. Against Cover 3 that is the post safety, then the strong safety playing the Curl/Flat zone; against Cover 2 Tampa, the curl linebacker under the sail. If that defender sinks and widens under the sail, throw the short route; if it stays low, throw the sail. In Crucible's Sail Dig, you read Sail first, then the Dig on the backside.

## The Routes in Sail

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![Sail diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/routes/sail.thumb.webp)

Sail

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![Option diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/routes/option.thumb.webp)

Option

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![Pogo diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/routes/pogo.thumb.webp)

Pogo

## Rep Sail Against These Coverages

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![Cover 1 diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/coverages/cover-1.thumb.webp)

Cover 1 31 plays to rep against
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![Cover 2 Tampa diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/coverages/cover-2-tampa.thumb.webp)

Cover 2 Tampa 31 plays to rep against
-

![Cover 3 diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/coverages/cover-3.thumb.webp)

Cover 3 31 plays to rep against
-

![Cover 4 diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/coverages/cover-4.thumb.webp)

Cover 4 31 plays to rep against
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![Cover 4p diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/coverages/cover-4p.thumb.webp)

Cover 4p 15 plays to rep against

-

![Cover 6 diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/coverages/cover-6.thumb.webp)

Cover 6 31 plays to rep against
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![Cover 3 Buzz diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/coverages/cover-3-buzz.thumb.webp)

Cover 3 Buzz 31 plays to rep against
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![Cover 3 Weak Buzz diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/coverages/cover-3-weak-buzz.thumb.webp)

Cover 3 Weak Buzz 31 plays to rep against

+ 4 more in Crucible

## Sail Plays in Crucible

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![Sail Dig diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/plays/sail-dig.thumb.webp)

Sail Dig

## Related routes

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Sail

## Related coverages

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Cover 3 31 plays to rep against

Rep Sail in Crucible
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