Playbooks

Flood

Shotgun·Split Slot Open·20
FloodPass PlayCover 3 Beater
Play diagram for Flood from Shotgun Split Slot Open in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

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Breakdown

Flood from Shotgun Split Slot Open is a classic three level flood concept designed to stretch one side of the field vertically and beat zone coverage. The backside X runs a deep out to occupy the far corner, while the frontside stacks a deep vertical clear out, a corner route, and a flat/wheel route underneath, creating high low low leverage on the boundary defender and the flat defender. The HB or slot runs an underneath option route out of the backfield that curls up into the void, giving the QB a built in checkdown. Primary read progression starts with the corner route against the deep third, works down to the flat route if the corner squats, and finishes with the underneath option route as the last resort against zone drops.

Defensive Reads

Identify single high safety alignment pre-snap, since Cover 3 is the primary shell this concept is designed to exploit with the three level stretch. Watch the flat defender post-snap, if he widens with the underneath option route the window opens for the corner route sitting behind him. If the corner drops deep and wide immediately, that signals Cover 3 with a hard deep third rule, so throw the flat route or the underneath option quickly before the flat defender can react. Against Cover 2, the corner will jump the flat and the safety will roll over the top of the corner route, so the underneath option route becomes the most reliable answer. Man coverage with no deep help is the biggest counter to this play, since a user controlled defender can sit on the corner route and take away the vertical stretch before the QB can climb the progression.

Usage Tips

Look for single high shells like Cover 3 before the snap since this concept is built specifically to attack the deep third defender who has to choose between the corner and the flat.

If the corner CB shows soft outside leverage pre-snap, expect him to sink under the corner route, so key the flat defender for your first read instead of forcing the deep ball.

Use the backside deep out as a clock killer or hot route it into a quicker slant if you see man coverage rolled to that side, since it is not part of the main flood concept.

Pair this play with Mtn Flood or PA Flood in the same set to keep the same visual picture pre-snap while changing the launch point, which makes it harder for defenders to jump the route combo.

Best called on second and medium to third and long when defenses are more likely to sit in zone shells, since the flood concept loses value against aggressive man blitzes that get to the underneath option route quickly.

Other Plays in Split Slot Open