Playbooks

QB Draw

Shotgun·Empty Base·11
DrawQb DrawDesigned Qb RunRun Play
Play diagram for QB Draw from Shotgun Empty Base in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

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Breakdown

QB Draw out of Shotgun Empty Base with 11 personnel shows five eligible receivers releasing vertically or on flat routes to sell pass, while the offensive line pass sets briefly before turning upfield to create running lanes for the QB. All four outside receivers push straight up the field to hold deep defenders and the safeties, and the inside slot runs a flat route to widen underneath defenders and clear the middle of the field. This is a designed QB run built on the delayed handoff illusion, meant to punish aggressive pass rush lanes and light boxes, with the primary read being the QB reading the interior gap that opens as the defensive line rushes upfield off the pass-set look.

Defensive Reads

Watch for a defender spying the QB pre-snap or shading inside the tackle box, this is the biggest indicator the draw gets blown up immediately. Man coverage across the board with no underneath zone help is where this play thrives, since defenders are turned away from the QB tracking their routes. Match zone or split safety looks (2 high shells like Cover 2 or Cover 4) tend to keep linebackers in shorter drops, which can clog the draw lanes if they read run quickly. Look for delayed A gap or B gap blitzes, since those defenders are already moving downhill and can meet the QB Draw at the mesh point before it develops. If the defense shows Cover 3 with LBs sinking hard on the flat route from the slot receiver, the middle of the field opens up and the draw hits its widest lane.

Usage Tips

Call this on early downs or second and short when the defense is expecting a quick game pass out of empty formations.

Check the pre-snap box count and blitz indicators, if the defense shows five or six defenders crashing off the edge or blitzing off the slot, this play hits fast through the vacated middle.

Use a small pump fake with the right stick or hold the ball an extra beat if your QB has escapability to sell the pass read before tucking and running.

Pair this with Stick, Curl Flats, or Drag Double Spot from the same set so the defense has to respect the quick passing concepts and cannot sit on the draw look.

Avoid calling this against defenses in obvious run support fronts or against user defenders spying the quarterback, since the lack of blocking numbers gets exposed quickly.

Other Plays in Empty Base