Playbooks

Curls

Pistol·Y Off Trips·11

Curl Pass Play

Play diagram for Curls from Pistol Y Off Trips in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationPistol

SetY Off Trips

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 3 playbooks

Air Raid OffenseOffense Pistol OffenseOffense Spread Classic

Breakdown

Curls out of Pistol Y Off Trips uses a 3x1 alignment to spread the field and settle four receivers into curl and comeback style breaks at intermediate depth. The backside X runs a curl route from the boundary, the trips side stacks a curl, a shallow drag/flat crosser, and a vertical seam route from the removed TE, while the RB checks release out of the backfield underneath. This is a zone beater designed to sit receivers down in the soft spots between the underneath and deep zones, with the primary read starting at the backside curl and progressing into the trips concept if the boundary is squeezed by a defender sitting underneath.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap check safety depth and leverage, since two high safeties usually signal zone drops that create the soft spots this play is designed to exploit. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they sink hard into curl windows immediately that confirms zone coverage and you should trust the sit routes rather than expecting separation. Man coverage with cornerbacks pressing at the line and safeties rotating to a single high shell is the primary counter, since curl routes have no natural separation against tight man technique and get squeezed by underneath defenders sitting in throwing lanes. Look for user controlled defenders sitting in the shallow crossing lane or lurking near the trips curl stack, since a smart human defender will jump the intermediate window and bait a throw into a pick six. Zone blitz packages that drop a defensive lineman into the shallow zone while bringing extra rushers off the edge can disrupt the timing of this play, so identify blitz alignment before the snap and have the checkdown ready.

Usage Tips

Pre-snap identify if the defense is showing two high safeties or a single high shell, since Curls is most effective against zone coverage with defenders dropping into landmarks rather than man matching every route. If you see Cover 3 or Cover 4 with linebackers sinking to intermediate zones, work the curl to the open field side first since those routes settle right into the voids created by zone drop depth. Hot route the seam runner into a deeper dig or corner route against Cover 2 to attack the seams that safeties vacate when they widen. Use the RB check release as a checkdown against zone blitz looks where the defense is bringing extra rushers and leaving the underneath area thin. Pair this play with Four Verticals or PA Slot Seam from the same set so defenses cannot sit on the curl breaks, forcing them to respect vertical shots off identical formation and personnel.