Playbooks

QB Draw

Shotgun·Empty Base Trio·11

Draw Qb Draw Designed Qb Run Run Play

Play diagram for QB Draw from Shotgun Empty Base Trio in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetEmpty Base Trio

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 14 playbooks

Bears OffenseOffense Buccaneers OffenseOffense Panthers OffenseOffense Shotgun Mix Spread Classic Steelers OffenseOffense Superstar HB Receiving Superstar QB Field General Vikings OffenseOffense NFL Live Bears OffenseOffense NFL Live Buccaneers OffenseOffense NFL Live Panthers OffenseOffense

Breakdown

QB Draw out of Empty Base Trio is a designed quarterback run that uses the empty backfield look to disguise a delayed run action. With no running back in the backfield, the offensive line sells pass protection for a beat before opening lanes for the quarterback to take off through the middle, betting on the defense dropping into coverage assignments against five eligible receivers. This is a pure run play that punishes teams playing coverage shells or blitzing off the edge, since interior gaps stay clean while defenders react to the pass-heavy personnel and route distribution shown in the diagram.

Defensive Reads

Check pre-snap for two-high safety shells or single-high look, since deep safeties respecting the pass distribution from Empty Base Trio create bigger run lanes. Watch linebacker depth at the snap. Linebackers sitting back in zone drops instead of reading the mesh point are the biggest indicator this play will hit. Man coverage on the perimeter receivers is a green light, since it pulls defensive backs away from the box and leaves only front seven defenders to beat. Blitz packages with extra defenders crashing the interior gaps immediately kill this play, since there is no back to absorb the free rusher. User controlled defenders spying the quarterback or sitting in a lurk technique near the middle of the field will blow this play up before it develops.

Usage Tips

Call this on early downs or short yardage situations when the defense shows man coverage or a two-high shell, since those alignments pull defenders away from the interior gaps.

Watch for defensive linemen crashing hard off the snap. If the defense keys run instantly, this play loses its disguise value and gets stuffed at the line.

Mix this in after running Bubble Screen or Slants from the same Empty Base Trio set so the defense respects quick game and hesitates on run recognition.

Use manual QB acceleration immediately after the snap once you see the linebackers bite on their zone drops or man assignments.

Avoid calling this against heavy blitz packages with extra defenders in the box, since the empty backfield removes any lead blocker to handle unblocked rushers.