Playbooks

Dig Curl Read

Shotgun·Empty Base·11

Curl Dig Pass Play

Play diagram for Dig Curl Read from Shotgun Empty Base in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetEmpty Base

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 3 playbooks

Air Raid OffenseOffense Redskins OffenseOffense NFL Live Redskins OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Dig Curl Read lines up in Shotgun Empty Base with 11 personnel, spreading five eligible receivers across the field with no running back in the backfield. To the trips side, the outside receiver runs a deep dig that breaks hard across the middle, the slot runs a curl that settles underneath, and the inside slot runs a short comeback/hitch, creating a natural high low read on that side. Backside, the two receiver combo runs a pin route and a shallow drag underneath it to clear space and give the quarterback an outlet if the trips side is jumped. This is a man and zone beater built on the classic dig curl read concept, with the primary progression starting at the dig, working down to the curl, and checking the drag as the final outlet.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, check for single high safety alignment which signals Cover 3 or Cover 1, both of which are vulnerable to the dig route sitting in the intermediate zone. Watch cornerback depth on the trips side, since soft press or off man coverage gives the dig a clean throwing window while tight press man forces a quicker decision to the curl. Post-snap, key the flat defender or curl to flag defender, if he widens with the curl route the dig will be wide open behind him, if he sits the curl becomes the checkdown. Look out for user controlled lurk defenders sitting in the middle of the field who can jump the dig route, this is the primary defender that shuts this play down in Cover 4 or Cover 6 shells. Blitz heavy looks with man coverage behind them attack the empty backfield fast, so identify overload pressure to the trips side pre-snap and be ready to check the drag route as a hot outlet.

Usage Tips

Use pre-snap motion or a hot route audible on the backside drag to convert it into a quick option if the defense shows heavy blitz looks. Identify single high versus two high safety shells before the snap, since the dig sits down nicely in the soft spot of Cover 3 and the curl exploits the flat defender in Cover 2. Against man coverage, ride the dig route through its break and trust the separation created by the in cut, since it is one of the best man beaters in the Empty Base set. Pair this play with Curl Flats or Stick on early downs to set up the defense expecting quick game, then hit Dig Curl Read on third down when defenders sit on shorter routes. Empty formation removes the running back protection, so get the ball out on time versus five and six man pressure looks, or hot route the drag into a quick flare to beat overload blitzes.