Playbooks

Deep Attack

Shotgun·Empty Base Trio·11

Pass Play Four Verts Go Post In Out Corner Cover 3 Beater

Play diagram for Deep Attack from Shotgun Empty Base Trio in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetEmpty Base Trio

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 4 playbooks

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Breakdown

Deep Attack lines up out of Shotgun Empty Base Trio with three receivers stacked to the left and two to the right, giving you a five wide look with no running back protection to worry about. The left side runs a corner route and a shallow crossing route that occupy the flat and deep third, while the right side is the real attack point with a post, a go, and a deep out combined with a shallow crosser dragging underneath. This is a classic Four Verts shell designed to stretch Cover 3 horizontally and vertically, and your primary read starts with the post/go combo on the right side before working back to the deep out and crossers underneath if the safety stays deep middle.

Defensive Reads

Identify single high safety alignment before the snap, since that tells you Cover 3 or Cover 1 is likely and the post/go side will have a numbers advantage. Watch the flat defender on the right side after the snap, if he sinks with the crosser instead of widening, the deep out will be wide open. Key the deep safety's first two steps, if he bails toward the go route the post will break open behind him. Beware two high safety shells like Cover 2 or Cover 4, since they can bracket the go and post routes and force you into the shorter crossers underneath. Watch for a disguised blitz off the slot, since Empty Base Trio has no running back to check release protection and a delayed blitzer can get home before your deep routes develop.

Usage Tips

Check pre-snap for a single high safety before the snap, since this play is built to shred Cover 3 with the post and go combo occupying the deep middle defender.

If the corner clears out to cover the go route, look immediately to the post for the explosive shot play.

Use the deep out on the right as your zone beater against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells where the corner sits low and the safety cannot cover the sideline in time.

Hot route the underlying crossers into hitches or sit routes on third and short to give yourself a quick outlet if the deep shell rolls to double the post.

Pair this play with All Curl or Stick Nod earlier in a series to bait linebackers into shallow drops, then hit Deep Attack once the defense commits to jumping short routes.