Playbooks

Lions Under

Shotgun·Split Slot Offset·20

Pass Play Play Action Out Corner Go Seam Drag Curl Flat Flood Cover 3 Beater Cover 2 Beater

Play diagram for Lions Under from Shotgun Split Slot Offset in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetSplit Slot Offset

Personnel

202 RB · 0 TE · 3 WR

In 1 playbook

Balanced Pass OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Lions Under is a play-action flood concept out of the Shotgun Split Slot Offset formation with 20 personnel. Off the play fake, the outside receiver runs a deep go up the sideline while the inside receiver on that side breaks into a corner route, creating a two level stretch on the boundary defender. On the backside, the fullback releases into the flat while the offset back runs a wheel route up the sideline, and a tight end or receiver crosses underneath on a drag from the strongside all the way across the field. The primary read starts with the corner and go combo working the flood side, then progresses to the deep drag crossing the middle and finally to the wheel and flat combo if the flood side is capped, making this a strong Cover 3 and Cover 2 beater.

Defensive Reads

Watch the flow of the linebackers after the snap, if they bite hard on the run fake the deep drag route will be wide open behind them. Key the cornerback on the flood side, if he sinks with the go route the corner route sitting underneath him is the immediate throw. Identify the strong safety depth before the snap, a safety cheating down into the box signals man coverage or an aggressive run fit that the play action and wheel route can exploit. Against Cover 2, look for the flat defender jumping the fullback release, since that opens the wheel route running vertically past him with no help over the top. Watch for a blitzing linebacker crossing the formation, since Lions Under relies on the offensive line holding up long enough for the quarterback to climb the ladder from flood to drag to wheel.

Usage Tips

Use this on early downs or in play action shot situations since the run fake needs linebackers to bite for the concept to fully open up.

Pre-snap, identify single high versus two high safety shells, if you see two high rolled down to one post snap that is your cue the corner route on the flood side will have room behind the cornerback.

If the defense shows Cover 3 with a hard flat defender, work the deep drag crossing the field since it settles in the void behind underneath zones and in front of deep thirds.

Hot route the fullback to a stick or flat conversion against man coverage if you see a linebacker walked up on him, this gives you an easy check down versus blitz looks.

Pair Lions Under with Mtn Stutter Go or Mtn PA Stutter Go earlier in a series so the defense respects the deep shots off similar formation and motion, then hit the drag or wheel for a chunk gain when they overplay the vertical routes.