Playbooks

RNS Switch Curl Flat

Shotgun·Flanker Close·10

Flat Curl Curl Flat Pass Play Cover 2 Beater Cover 3 Beater

Play diagram for RNS Switch Curl Flat from Shotgun Flanker Close in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetFlanker Close

Personnel

101 RB · 0 TE · 4 WR

In 1 playbook

Run And Shoot OffenseOffense

Breakdown

RNS Switch Curl Flat out of Shotgun Flanker Close runs a switch release concept on the left side, with the two receivers crossing paths at the line before one breaks off into a curl (the red route sitting down around 10 to 12 yards) and the other settling underneath into the flat. On the right side the single receiver runs a quick out to the flat while the boundary player releases vertically on a wheel/go to stretch the field deep. This is a zone beater built to attack Cover 2 and Cover 3 by using the switch release to confuse man defenders and create natural rub separation, with the curl sitting in the soft spot behind underneath zone defenders and in front of deep safeties. Primary read progression starts with the curl route off the switch concept, then works down to the flat, and checks the backside vertical wheel as a big play outlet if the safety bites underneath.

Defensive Reads

Identify two deep safeties pre-snap as a strong indicator of Cover 2, which puts the curl route directly in the seam between the cornerback's zone drop and the safety's deep half. Watch the flat defender's initial jump: aggressive flat defenders who sink to take away the curl leave the flat route wide open for an easy check-down. A single high safety signals Cover 3, meaning the corner to the switch side will likely sink into a deep third, so the curl route sitting down at 10 to 12 yards becomes the primary window against the underneath zone defenders. User the flat defender or the underneath linebacker manually to jump the curl route timing, since AI defenders often bite hard on the switch release and can be baited into vacating the flat. Disguised blitzes with delayed linebacker drops can disrupt the switch release timing, so if you see a linebacker walked up near the line pre-snap, expect pressure that could force an early or rushed throw before the curl fully develops.

Usage Tips

Look for two deep safeties pre-snap to confirm Cover 2 or a single high safety for Cover 3, since both shells are the primary targets for this concept.

The switch release at the top of the play is designed to beat man coverage by rubbing defenders, so if you see man alignment with corners pressed on the receivers, trust the curl to work open after the pick action.

Hot route the flat defender's leverage: if the flat defender sinks with the curl route, immediately go to the flat throw underneath before the window closes.

Use this play on second and medium or third and short situations where the flat and curl combo gives you a high floor conversion option with the wheel route as a home run shot if the defense sells out on underneath coverage.

Pair this play with RNS Switch Dig or RNS Switch Curl in the same set to keep the same switch release look while changing the depth of the breaking route, forcing linebackers to guess between curl, dig, and flat reads snap to snap.