Playbooks

Escape

Shotgun·Flex Y Off Close·11
Pass PlayPlay ActionCornerOutFlatSeamFloodCover 3 BeaterCover 2 Beater
Play diagram for Escape from Shotgun Flex Y Off Close in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 8 playbooks

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Breakdown

Escape is a play-action flood concept out of Shotgun Flex Y Off Close that overloads one side of the field with three horizontal stems. The playside TE runs a corner route to the deep third, the slot runs a flat route underneath, and the outside receiver crosses the field on an out breaking into a seam read, creating a high low flood on that side while the backside receiver runs a deep corner and the backside TE releases on an out. The play action fake holds linebackers and safeties for a beat, and the primary read progression starts at the corner route on the flood side, works down to the seam crosser, and settles on the flat route as the checkdown against aggressive underneath coverage.

Defensive Reads

Read the strong side safety first, if he crashes down on the play action fake the corner route will be wide open behind him. Watch for a user controlled defender sitting in the flat, this is the biggest threat to the underneath flat route and can bait a risky throw. Against Cover 3, key the flat side outside linebacker or corner, if he sinks too deep on the flood the flat route and seam crosser both open up underneath. Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets shredded by the corner route, look for the corner turning his back to run with the TE. Beware disguised Cover 4 or Cover 2 Man looks with a robber underneath, this can jump the seam crosser and force you to the flat as a checkdown.

Usage Tips

Use this on early downs when you expect a run fit from linebackers since the play action freeze is key to opening the corner route.

Check the safety alignment pre-snap, if you see two high safeties bail into a Cover 2 shell, hit the corner route in the void behind the flat defender.

Against Cover 3, work the seam crosser since the flood concept stretches the deep third defender horizontally before he can get depth.

Pair this with Flood and RPO Zone Alert from the same set so defenses cannot sit on the play action fake without getting gashed by the run game.

Use motion or a hot route on the backside out if you diagnose man coverage pre-snap to create an easy rhythm throw away from the flood.

Other Plays in Flex Y Off Close