Playbooks

689 Hook

Shotgun·Split Y-Flex·21

Pass Play Play Action Curl Out Go Flat Flood Cover 3 Beater

Play diagram for 689 Hook from Shotgun Split Y-Flex in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetSplit Y-Flex

Personnel

212 RB · 1 TE · 2 WR

In 1 playbook

Power Run OffenseOffense

Breakdown

689 Hook out of Shotgun Split Y-Flex is a play action based flood concept designed to attack Cover 3 and other zone shells with a five man route combination. Off the top of the diagram the backside receiver runs a go route to clear the deep third, while the flanker underneath him works a hook route back to the middle of the field as a checkdown option in the void. On the frontside, the outside receiver runs a deep out to the sideline, the slot runs a short flat route, and the inline receiver releases into a corner shaped route that curls back toward the sideline near the sticks, creating a natural flood to one side. The primary read progression starts with the flood side out and flat combo working high to low, then comes back to the deep go and hook combo on the backside if the flood is covered or the quarterback is forced off his first read.

Defensive Reads

Watch for a single high safety alignment before the snap, which signals Cover 3 or Cover 1 and tells the quarterback the flood side out and flat combo has a strong chance to beat underneath zone drops. Key the flat defender and curl to flat defender on the play side, since if they widen with the flat route it opens a throwing lane for the deep out route behind them. Identify user controlled defenders sitting in the shallow hook or curl zones, since a smart user player can jump the flat or hook routes and bait a turnover if the quarterback stares down his first read too long. Against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells, expect the deep out and go route on the backside to be well defended by the corner and safety, so lean on the flood side flat and hook combo underneath instead. Look for blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge, since the play action fake can slow the initial pass rush but a well timed nano blitz can still collapse the pocket before the flood routes fully develop.

Usage Tips

Use play action from under center tendencies to freeze linebackers before the flood routes develop, since the fake will hold second level defenders and open passing lanes for the out and flat combo.

Diagnose zone shells pre-snap by checking safety depth: a two high shell that rotates to one deep safety post snap is a green light for the deep out and go combo since Cover 3 leaves a natural void in the deep middle and flat.

If the defense shows man coverage, hot route the hook route into a deeper crossing or dig route to create separation, since a stationary hook route can get sat on by underneath man defenders and linebackers with eyes in the backfield.

This play works best on second and long or third and medium situations where the sideline out route and flood concept can pick up chunk yardage against zone drops without needing a first read checkdown.

Pair this play with Y Cross or PA Y Cross from the same set to keep the defense honest, since both plays start with similar play action shows but attack different levels and hashes, forcing linebackers to respect multiple concepts.