Playbooks

Curl Flats

Shotgun·Normal Y Off·11

Curl Pass Play Flat

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

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetNormal Y Off

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 1 playbook

Balanced Pass OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Curl Flats out of Shotgun Normal Y Off is a three level stretch to the closed side of the formation, using the outside receiver on a deep curl at 12-15 yards while the inside slot receiver releases underneath to the flat. On the backside, the receiver runs a vertical seam to hold the safety and cornerback in that direction, and the RB stays in to help protect or check into the flat depending on the blitz look. This is a zone beater designed to attack the flat-to-curl window against Cover 2 and Cover 3, with the primary read starting on the flat defender: if he sits, hit the curl behind him, and if he widens with the flat route, work the throwing lane underneath.

Defensive Reads

Identify the flat defender pre-snap, whether it is a linebacker, nickel, or corner playing man or zone, since his depth and leverage tell you which route to prioritize. Watch the underneath zone drop of the middle linebacker. If he sinks hard toward the curl window, check the ball down to the flat immediately. Check the deep safety alignment before the snap. Two high safeties usually signal Cover 2 or Cover 4, meaning the flat is open early, while a single high safety points to Cover 3 with the curl window compressed. Man coverage with no safety help over the top invites a quick user pick on the flat route, so be ready to reset your drop and find the backside vertical seam as a hot outlet. A disguised blitz that brings the flat defender on a nano blitz will remove the underneath help, so recognize A gap or edge pressure pre-snap and get the ball out on time to the curl or check to the RB.

Usage Tips

Use this on second and medium to long third down since the curl route settles in soft zones at a distance that matches typical sticks to gain.

Check the cornerback depth pre-snap. If he is playing off at seven yards or more, the flat route becomes an easy completion versus zone drops that click and close late.

Motion the backside receiver or use a hot route to convert the flat man into a quick out if you see man coverage with no underneath help, since the natural flat route can get squeezed by press corners.

Pair this play with Curls Lead Swing or Curl Combo in your play-calling sequence so the defense cannot key on the same flat-curl stem every snap, forcing zone defenders to hesitate on their drops.

Against Cover 3, throw the curl with anticipation before the deep third defender can sink under it, and against Cover 2 work the flat first since the corner is sitting on the curl.