Playbooks

Normal Off Close Wk

Shotgun·11

Specialists3DRBGadgetPower HBSLWR

Set alignment for Normal Off Close Wk from Shotgun in Madden 27

At a Glance

FormationShotgun

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

Plays24

In 6 playbooks

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Overview

Shotgun Normal Off Close Wk is an 11 personnel look that keeps the running back offset in the standard Normal gun alignment while the tight end sets up off the ball, tight to the tackle on the weak side. Other Shotgun 11 personnel sets put the tight end on the line or split him wide. This alignment turns him into a movable wing who can pull, kick out, arc release, or leak across the formation. The two receivers work to the passing strength, and the lone receiver to the weak side often gets isolated against a single defender. Defenses get a balanced look with a hidden run strength, which makes it tough to set the front before the snap.

The off-ball tight end is the engine of the set. He is the puller on Counter Y, the wham blocker on 0 1 Trap, and the man sliding across the formation on PA Slide and PA Y Cross. Because he starts in the backfield plane, he gets free releases against press and is hard for a linebacker to jam. That creates easy matchups on Mtn PA Y Sit and PA Y Cross against slower Mike and Will backers. The weak side receiver stays isolated for Comeback Z Post, Mtn Z Dig, and Chip WR Corner, while the two receiver side handles Levels Mills, Pivot In Seams, and the RPO bubble tags.

The play list is heavy on RPOs, with RPO Peek Slant, RPO Zone Alert, RPO Alert Bubble, RPO Zone Peek, and RPO Power Alert Bubble. It also carries a full gap and zone run menu: Inside Zone, Inside Zone Split, Mtn Outside Zone, HB Base, Counter Y, and 0 1 Trap. Mountain play action and screen answers like HB Slip Screen and Redzone HB Scissors round it out. The 3DRB, Gadget, Power HB, and SLWR tags fit what the set rewards: a versatile back, a hybrid tight end, a downhill runner, and a slot receiver who wins quickly off RPO and quick game reads.

Strengths

The off-ball weak side tight end gives you a true split flow run game: Inside Zone Split and Counter Y show the same pre-snap picture, which freezes backside linebackers and punishes users who cheat to the strength.
The RPO menu covers every shell. RPO Peek Slant and RPO Zone Peek attack Cover 3 and Cover 1 inside leverage, while RPO Alert Bubble and RPO Power Alert Bubble punish defenses that bring the slot defender into the box against 11 personnel.
The weak side receiver is isolated with Comeback Z Post, Mtn Z Dig, and Chip WR Corner, which makes excellent man beaters against a lone corner with no safety help, especially after you motion the tight end to check coverage.
PA Y Cross, PA Slide, and Mtn PA Y Sit let the tight end release from the backfield without a jam, creating crossers and sit routes behind linebackers who bit on the Inside Zone and Mtn Outside Zone looks.
Levels Mills, Flood Z Drive, and Pivot In Seams give you layered zone beaters that stress Cover 3 buzz and Cover 4 quarters. Double Post and Slants provide quick answers against single high man.

Weaknesses

The weak side tight end is often a blocker or late releaser, so you only get four quick eligible threats. Overload blitzes and nano pressure off the strong side edge can beat the RB check before hot routes develop.
The isolated weak side receiver is easy to bracket. Cover 2 man or a user safety rotating over the top takes away Comeback Z Post and Mtn Z Dig, forcing throws into the two receiver side.
RPO reads depend on the unblocked defender. A user-controlled Mike who sits in the RPO throwing window, or an edge who slow plays the read, causes bad keeps and hands off into stacked boxes.
Counter Y and 0 1 Trap rely on the tight end winning his kick out. A sub-par run blocking tight end or a defense that spills with a quick end blows up the pulling lanes and leaves the Power HB with nowhere to go.
Defenders who learn the alignment tendency can key the tight end's release. When he slides across the formation it signals play action or HB Slip Screen, and sharp opponents will jump the flat or crossers.

Usage Tips

Before the snap, read the box count. Six or fewer defenders means hand off on Inside Zone Split or Counter Y. Seven or more with a single high safety means check to RPO Peek Slant or Slants and attack the vacated inside window.

Motion the tight end across the formation to diagnose man versus zone. If a linebacker or safety follows him, check to Comeback Z Post, Double Post, or Chip WR Corner and hot route the slot to a slant for a man beater.

On 2nd and short or 3rd and 2, establish Counter Y and 0 1 Trap early, then attack the tendency with PA Y Cross or Mtn PA Y Sit. The boot action pulls the backside end and gives the QB a run pass option to the flat.

Against heavy pressure, hot route the RB to a flat or slant, or call HB Slip Screen. This punishes nano blitzes that vacate the second level, especially with a 3DRB who wins in space.

In the red zone, use Redzone HB Scissors and Flood Z Drive to overload Cover 3 and Cover 1 red zone looks. Keep RPO Alert Bubble as a quick audible when the defense walks the apex defender into the box.