Playbooks

Curl Combo

Shotgun·Normal Y Off Wk·11

Curl Pass Play

Play diagram for Curl Combo from Shotgun Normal Y Off Wk in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetNormal Y Off Wk

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

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Breakdown

Curl Combo out of Shotgun Normal Y Off Wk is a horizontal stretch passing concept built around a three level read on the right side. The outside receiver runs a vertical stem that breaks into a curl at the sticks, the inside slot works a short out to the flat, and the back releases from the backfield on a swing/flare route that widens the field to the boundary side. On the backside the lone receiver runs a go route to hold the corner and safety deep, clearing space underneath for the curl. This is a zone beater designed to attack sink and flat defenders, with the QB progression starting at the curl, working down to the flat route, and checking the backside swing as a late escape valve.

Defensive Reads

Watch the flat defender pre-snap, if a linebacker or nickel is sitting shallow expecting the flat route, check off to the curl sitting behind him for the easy chain mover. Read the safety over the top of the curl route, if he is playing deep half or deep third with no underneath help, the curl sits in a soft spot that is hard to close on. Key the cornerback on the backside go route, if he presses at the line expecting man coverage, that route can become a hot read slant beater instead. Against Cover 3 sink concepts this play excels because it isolates the flat defender in conflict between the swing and the underneath breaking routes. Watch for a user controlled defender lurking in the shallow zone or blitzing off the edge, since a disguised blitz can collapse the pocket before the curl route has time to develop.

Usage Tips

Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing two high or single high safety look, since curl routes sit down in soft spots that two high shells tend to leave open. Use the flat route as your primary answer against Cover 3 because the corner sinking into his deep third leaves the flat wide open for an easy pitch and catch. Hot route the backside go into a slant or drag if you see man coverage across the board, since the curl combo naturally struggles against tight man with no built in rub. Call this on second and medium to third and short situations where the sticks line up with the curl breakpoint, giving the QB a clean high percentage completion. Pair this with Double Slants or Exit Double Slants from the same set to keep the defense honest on quick game reads, then mix in Four Verticals once you have shown the curl combo enough to bait linebackers into shallow drops.