Playbooks

Curl Flats

Shotgun·Empty Ace·12

Curl Pass Play Flat

Play diagram for Curl Flats from Shotgun Empty Ace in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetEmpty Ace

Personnel

121 RB · 2 TE · 2 WR

In 9 playbooks

Jets OffenseOffense Shotgun OffenseOffense Sim Focusedtargeting Ba OffenseOffense Sim Focusedtargeting Ph OffenseOffense Sim Focusedtargeting Rn OffenseOffense Sim Volumedistribution Ba OffenseOffense Sim Volumedistribution Ph OffenseOffense Sim Volumedistribution Rn OffenseOffense NFL Live Jets OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Curl Flats out of Shotgun Empty Ace is a five wide route combo with no backfield help, built to attack zone drops on the trips side and stretch the defense horizontally to the boundary. The trips side runs a curl, a flat, and a vertical clear out route that occupies the deep third, while the backside single receiver runs an isolated deep route to hold the corner and safety honest. With no back to check release, the primary read progression starts at the curl, works down to the flat if the underneath defender sinks, and comes off the backside iso only if the defense rolls extra coverage away from the trips concept, making this a zone beater designed to exploit the soft spot between the flat defender and the curl/hook zone.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing two high safeties or a single high shell, since Cover 3 and Cover 4 leave the curl to flat window vulnerable while true Cover 2 forces a tighter window on the curl. Watch the slot corner or overhang defender at the snap, if he sinks into a hook zone the flat is open, if he stays flat footed on the flat receiver the curl behind him is the target. Key the middle linebacker depth, a shallow drop signals he may be spying or blitzing which opens up the curl sitting down in the vacated zone. Man coverage with press technique on the trips receivers is the primary counter, since there is no back to check releases and the quarterback has no easy answer if the corners jump the routes early. Watch for a robber or lurk defender sitting in the middle of the field, since this play's curl route crosses into that exact throwing lane and can get jumped by a user-controlled linebacker or safety.

Usage Tips

Use this on third and short to third and medium when you expect zone coverage since the curl sits down right in the hole against Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells.

Check the flat defender before the snap, if a linebacker or slot corner is sitting at five yards over the curl route he is telegraphing a zone drop you can exploit with the flat throw underneath him.

Hot route the backside vertical receiver into a quick slant or drag if you see man coverage press at the line, this gives you a rhythm throw against blitz looks.

Pair this play with All Go or Return Trail Go in the same set to keep the defense honest on vertical shots, then come back to Curl Flats once they start sitting on deep routes.

Against Cover 2 look to layer the ball into the curl before the deep half safety can close, since the flat route naturally occupies the corner sinking underneath.