Cutup Friday: 2021 Rams Keeper - Flash
The following breakdown is taken from The 2021 Los Angeles Rams Complete Offensive Manual as well as The Complete Keeper Manual.
The Flash route is a first to the flat route for the Keeper concept. The tagged receiver, most often the tight end, will block the EMOL for 2 counts, then disengage and work to the flat. The goal is to get a body on the EMOL while still creating a first in the flat route for the Keeper concept.
The Flash route is best against 5-down fronts, when the EMOL is often the flat defender. Running Keeper – Flash against this look can create some real easy throws for the quarterback.
The concept is also good against 4 down fronts that like to play the defensive end in a wide-9. This will often require the flat defender to fit the C-gap, so the run fake will often get him stuck inside the Flash route. The 49ers play with a 4-down wide-9, so the Rams ran this concept against them.
The 2nd diagram shows a version with the slot receiver on the Flash route. When the EMOL is lined up on the tight split of the slot instead of the tight end, the tight end will run the high corner because he has a free release and nobody to run the Flash route on.
Why it Worked: The Rams hit an easy completion to the Flash route in the NFCCG early in the game. The strong safety is occupied with the insert of the High Corner, and the corner back stays deeper than the deepest in his cover 4 responsibility.
Why it Didn’t Work: In the 4th down clip from week 7, the Rams are still able to get leverage for the Flash route. The throw and catch isn’t able to connect, however.
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The video below is a 4.5 minute cutup of Keeper - Flash.