Playbooks

Curl Wheel

Shotgun·Spread Y-Slot·11
CurlWheelPass Play
Play diagram for Curl Wheel from Shotgun Spread Y-Slot in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

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Breakdown

Curl Wheel out of Shotgun Spread Y-Slot gives you a five man route concept built around a wheel route from the boundary slot receiver, who releases outside and up the sideline in red after crossing paths with the outside receiver's curl. On the field side, the TE runs a corner route while the outside receiver works an out and up into the flat, and the backside X sprints a vertical stem up the numbers. The primary read starts with the wheel route matched against a linebacker or nickel defender, then works to the field side flat and corner combo if the wheel is taken away, making this an effective man beater against linebackers who cannot stay on top of the wheel.

Defensive Reads

Identify if a linebacker or slot corner is aligned over the wheel route receiver pre-snap, since man coverage there is the biggest indicator this play will hit big. Watch for a single high safety rotating late to the wheel side, which signals zone coverage that can undercut the wheel route before it develops. Key the flat defender on the field side, if he sits and reads the quarterback, the out and corner combo will be tight, if he bites on the flat route the TE corner has room. Look for a linebacker blitz off the edge, which often leaves the wheel or flat routes uncovered and creates a quick throw window before the pocket collapses. Against Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells with disciplined deep defenders, this play beats down easier through the underneath curl and flat reads rather than forcing the wheel route.

Usage Tips

Check pre-snap for man coverage indicators like a linebacker walked out over the slot, since that alignment tells you the wheel route has a favorable matchup and should be your first read.

Against zone shells, work from the field side flat and out route combo since the wheel loses value versus a defender sitting in the deep third or a robber playing underneath.

Use hot routes to convert the backside X vertical into a hitch or slant if you see single high safety rotation late, giving you a quick answer against blitz looks.

Pair this play with Curls or Stick N Nod earlier in a series so defenders start jumping the short curl routes, then hit the wheel for a big play once they bite.

This play works best on second or third and medium when defenses are more likely to play zone matchups or bring a linebacker blitz that leaves the wheel uncovered.

Other Plays in Spread Y-Slot