Playbooks

Split Close

Shotgun·20

Specialists3DRBGadgetPower HBSLWR

Set alignment for Split Close from Shotgun in Madden 27

At a Glance

FormationShotgun

Personnel

202 RB · 0 TE · 3 WR

Plays30

In 23 playbooks

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Overview

Shotgun Split Close lines up 20 personnel: a halfback and a fullback split on either side of the quarterback, with three wide receivers. Two of the receivers align in a tight, condensed pairing to one side, and a single receiver is isolated backside. Other Shotgun sets use a single back with four or five eligible receivers spread outside. Split Close gives you two backfield threats who can release immediately into the flats, wheels, and swings. That keeps a sixth pass protector available until the snap, while the close receiver pairing creates natural rub and stack releases against press coverage.

The matchup advantage comes from forcing the defense to account for both backs. Linebackers and safeties have to commit to backfield flows on HB Swing, Close HB Wheel, Drive HB Wheel, and Close FB Trail, which opens intermediate windows for the slot receiver on Dig Slot Out, Pivot Dig, and Dig Y-out. A 3DRB at halfback is a legitimate mismatch against base linebackers in man coverage. The isolated backside receiver gets true one on one looks when the defense rolls help toward the close side.

The play list is unusually balanced for a Shotgun set. Mesh, Mesh Spot, Swirl Curls, Double Swirl, and Clearout Crosser give you legit dropback concepts. HB Power O, HB Gut, and FB Inside let a Power HB run downhill behind a lead blocker. Read Option, HB Option, and Triple Option Lt add a Gadget element that punishes undisciplined edge defenders. Screens, play action with PA F Slide, and option reads all come from one look, so Split Close is a strong base set for players who want to stay in one formation and win on tendency breaking.

Strengths

Two backs releasing from the backfield overload linebacker assignments, and Close HB Wheel or Drive HB Wheel beat Cover 3 and Cover 1 when the hook defender bites on the flat or the underneath crosser
The close receiver alignment creates natural picks and stack releases, so Mesh, Mesh Spot, and Close X Drag are elite man beaters that rub trailing defenders at the mesh point
A real run game from Shotgun with HB Power O, HB Gut, and FB Inside keeps nickel and dime personnel honest, and a Power HB can punish light boxes when defenses sub in extra DBs to cover the passing game
Option plays (Read Option, HB Option, Triple Option Lt) punish crashing edge defenders and users who cheat a defensive end into the backfield, turning aggressive contain into explosive gains
Zone beaters like Swirl Curls, Double Swirl, Z Spot, and Clearout Crosser flood and high/low the flat and curl defenders, and the extra backfield release adds a checkdown under Cover 4 and Cover 2 shells

Weaknesses

With only three wide receivers and two backs split tight, the set has limited horizontal stretch, so Cover 2 Man and heavy underneath zone can squeeze the field and take away the quick game
The close receiver pairing is easily bracketed, and a user in the flat or curl can jump Swirl Curls and Dig concepts because the routes break into the same condensed area
Blitzing from the close side overloads protection when both backs release, and nano blitzes that attack the A gap force hot reads before wheel and corner routes develop
The fullback is often a limited receiver, so defenses can leave a linebacker on him and roll extra help to the 3DRB or slot receiver without being punished
Tendency heavy users can key backfield flow, since the FB alignment and play art often reveal run versus screen versus option, especially if you repeatedly call HB Slip Screen or Mtn FB Cross Screen

Usage Tips

Against Cover 1 and Cover 0 look for the matchup on the halfback, then call Close HB Wheel or Drive HB Wheel and hot route the fullback to a block to buy time for the wheel to clear

On 3rd and short to medium, Mesh and Mesh Spot are your go to calls versus man, and you can hot route the backside receiver to a slant for a quick throw if the defense shows press with a blitz

When the defense shows a light box with two high safeties, audible to HB Power O or HB Gut and let the lead block from the fullback set the edge, then use PA F Slide off the same look once the safeties start creeping down

If a user is crashing the defensive end or spying the QB, run Read Option or Triple Option Lt to the side of that defender and make him wrong on every snap

Versus Cover 3 and Cover 4, call Swirl Curls, Double Swirl, or Clearout Crosser and read the flat defender high to low, and motion the slot to adjust spacing and identify man or zone before the snap