Playbooks

HB Orbit Spacing

Shotgun·Deuce Close·12
SpacingMotionPass PlayCover 3 BeaterCover 4 Beater
Play diagram for HB Orbit Spacing from Shotgun Deuce Close in Madden 27

Quick Reference

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Breakdown

HB Orbit Spacing out of Shotgun Deuce Close aligns two TEs in-line with the HB motioning in an orbit swing to the flat before the snap, creating a five-man spacing concept underneath the coverage. Both outside receivers run vertical stems that break outward toward the sideline, the inside receiver runs a short curl or hook into the void left by the linebackers, and one TE runs a quick out or flat route while the other stays in to help protect. This is a pure spacing based zone beater designed to attack Cover 3 and Cover 4 by stretching the underneath zone defenders horizontally, with the primary read progression starting at the orbit HB flat route, working to the shallow curl sitting in the middle void, then out to the boundary breaking routes if the underneath defenders widen too far.

Defensive Reads

Key the middle linebacker and see if he widens with the orbit motion, since natural flow to the HB opens up the curl route sitting behind him. Watch the flat defenders on both sides presnap, if they are playing tight to the line of scrimmage the sideline breaking routes will have room underneath but the curl will be squeezed. Identify single high safety alignment presnap, which tips Cover 3 and tells the offense the curl and flat combo will have soft spots in the underneath zones. Look for a slot corner or nickel defender shadowing the orbit motion man in man coverage, since that confirms man principles and turns the flat route into a natural rub or pick opportunity. Diagnose zone blitz packages where a defensive back drops into an underneath zone, since that extra defender can jump the curl route and cause a sudden turnover on the primary read.

Usage Tips

Use the HB orbit motion pre-snap to identify if the defense rotates a linebacker or safety to follow the back, which reveals man coverage or a matchup zone look.

If the defense shows Cover 3 with a single high safety, prioritize the shallow curl sitting in the hole between the flat defender and the deep third defender.

Against Cover 4 shells, work the outer breaking routes since corners playing off will concede the sideline throw before the curl route settles.

Hot route the backside TE into a quick flat or drag if you see a blitz look, since spacing concepts are vulnerable to underneath pressure with only three or four in protection.

Pair this play with RPO Counter Stick or RPO Read Cntr from the same set to keep defenses honest against the run, then come back to Orbit Spacing once linebackers start cheating downhill.

Other Plays in Deuce Close