Playbooks

Drag Curl

Shotgun·Empty Bunch Wide·11

Curl Drag Pass Play

Play diagram for Drag Curl from Shotgun Empty Bunch Wide in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetEmpty Bunch Wide

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

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Breakdown

Drag Curl out of Shotgun Empty Bunch Wide sends the bunch receivers into a vertical clearout on the left with a shallow drag underneath, while the right side runs a corner route paired with a quick out and a red hot route option coming off the line into the middle of the field. There is no running back protection shown since this is an empty formation, so the QB is on a timer and the routes are the entire progression. This is a zone beater by design since the drag sits underneath linebackers while the corner and clearout stretch the deep zones vertically, but it can also work versus man due to the natural rub created by the bunch alignment. Primary read progression starts with the drag underneath, then works to the corner route on the right, using the out route as a checkdown against soft zone coverage.

Defensive Reads

Watch the deep safeties pre-snap, since two high shells will bracket the corner route and force you to live underneath with the drag and out routes. Identify if the defense is playing man or zone based on cornerback alignment on the bunch receivers, since tight press man invites a rub or pick if the routes cross close together. Post-snap, key the flow of the linebackers, since a fast drop to the drag route signals zone coverage and opens up the corner route behind it. Look for a user controlled defender sitting in the shallow middle zone (lurk), since this can jump the drag route and bait a turnover if the QB is not patient. This play struggles against tight man coverage with no natural pick since the corner and out routes on the right have limited separation without the rub from the bunch.

Usage Tips

Check the defensive alignment pre-snap for single high versus two high safeties, since the corner route on the right only opens up versus one deep defender or a rotated coverage shell.

Use the hot route (red route) to adjust the middle receiver into a shallow cross or spot if you diagnose man coverage pre-snap, since this gives you a built in man beater against man match schemes.

Throw the drag route quickly on early downs since it is the fastest developing route and punishes linebackers who sit too deep in zone drops.

Pair this play with Mtn Spacing Dig or Z Spot Smash from the same set to keep the defense guessing between quick underneath throws and intermediate route combos.

Best used on third and short to third and medium since the drag and out routes provide easy access throws, while the corner route serves as an explosive shot play if the safety bites on the underneath routes.