Playbooks

Curl Flats

Pistol·Doubles·11
CurlPass PlayFlatBlock and Release
Play diagram for Curl Flats from Pistol Doubles in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationPistol

In 5 playbooks

Panthers OffenseOffensePistol OffenseOffenseRaiders OffenseOffenseNFL Live Panthers OffenseOffenseNFL Live Raiders OffenseOffense

Receiver routes

Depth-chart slots are shown as they line up in the base package for this set.

See this play with a team's players
PlayerSideRoute
HB1MiddleBlock and Release Hook
WR3LeftFlat
WR1LeftCurl
WR2RightCurl
TE1RightFlat

Read progression

  1. WR2 right, Curl
  2. WR1 left, Curl
  3. WR3 left, Flat
  4. TE1 right, Flat
  5. HB1, Block and Release HookCheck-down

Breakdown

Curl Flats out of Pistol Doubles is a five man protection concept that keeps both the HB and full offensive line home to pass block, giving the QB a clean pocket to work through a four level flood on the right side and a curl flat combo on the left. WR2 and WR1 sit down in the underneath zones on curls while the TE1 and WR3 work to the flats underneath them, creating natural high low reads on both sides of the field. This is a zone beater designed to attack Cover 2, Cover 3, and Cover 4 shells by settling receivers into the soft spots between levels, and it also holds up against man coverage since curls create natural separation against off corners and flat routes stress linebackers in man match situations.

Defensive Reads

Identify two high safeties pre-snap, this usually signals Cover 2 or Cover 4 zone where the curl routes will find soft spots against off corners. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if the flat defenders sink too deep into curl windows the flat routes to WR3 and TE1 will be wide open underneath. Beware user controlled lurk defenders sitting in the shallow curl zones, since a good user linebacker or safety can jump the WR1 or WR2 curl routes if the QB stares them down too long. Man coverage with press corners can disrupt the timing of the curl routes, look for the flats to beat man defenders quickly since they create instant separation against linebackers in coverage. Cover 3 with a hard flat corner squatting on the WR3 or TE1 flat routes will force the QB to work the curls, so check corner depth and leverage before the snap to anticipate this rotation.

Usage Tips

Use this play on third and medium to third and long when defenses are more likely to sit in zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4.

Check the safety alignment pre-snap, if you see two high safeties expect off coverage underneath which favors the curl routes settling in soft zones.

Hot route the TE1 flat into a quick out or speed out against teams that squat hard on flats with linebackers to create more separation.

Pair this play with Four Verticals in your call sheet since both plays start from the same Pistol Doubles look and force defenses to respect both the deep shots and the underneath zone stress.

Combine with PA Boot or PA Comebacks to keep defenses honest, since Curl Flats punishes teams for sitting in zone while your play action game punishes aggressive zone drops and man coverage.

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