Playbooks

Curl Flats

Shotgun·5WR Trio·11

Curl Pass Play Flat

Play diagram for Curl Flats from Shotgun 5WR Trio in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

Set5WR Trio

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 10 playbooks

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Breakdown

Curl Flats out of Shotgun 5WR Trio is a zone beater built on high low leverage at the flat and curl levels. To the trips side, the outside receiver runs a vertical stem that breaks down into a curl, while the inside slot receiver releases underneath into the flat, creating a natural window against zone drops. On the backside, the isolated X receiver runs a vertical route (marked 1) to hold the corner and safety over the top. The primary read progression starts with the backside vertical if the defense shows single high or man coverage, then works to the curl route as the first checkdown against zone, and finally settles into the flat as the underneath outlet against soft coverage or blitz pressure.

Defensive Reads

Identify cover 3 or cover 4 shells before the snap since the curl route sits in the natural void between the underneath zone defender and the deep third or deep quarter defender. Watch the flat defender post snap, if a linebacker or slot corner sinks too deep into the curl zone, the flat route becomes an easy underneath completion for positive yardage. Key on the backside safety rotation, if the safety cheats toward the trips side pre snap, the backside vertical route becomes a one on one shot against the corner. Beware of cover 2 man or press man concepts on the backside, a physical corner jamming the number one receiver at the line can disrupt the timing of the vertical route and force a quicker progression to the curl flat side. Watch for user controlled defenders sitting in the short zone flats, since a smart user can jump the flat route and bait the quarterback into a turnover if the progression is rushed.

Usage Tips

Use pre-snap motion or a quick glance at the safety alignment to determine if you are facing single high or two high shells before the snap.

If the defense shows two high safeties, prioritize the curl to flat combo since the vertical route on the backside will not draw the same attention.

Against man coverage, look to the backside number one vertical route early in your progression since a single high defender or press corner leaves that route vulnerable to a deep shot.

Hot route the backside vertical into a comeback or dig if you consistently see safety help rotating over the top to eliminate the deep threat.

Pair this play with Four Verticals or Mtn Switch Verts in your play calling sequence to condition the defense to respect the deep shots, which opens up the curl flat window on early downs.