Playbooks

Curls

Shotgun·Trey Open·11

Curl Pass Play

Play diagram for Curls from Shotgun Trey Open in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetTrey Open

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 7 playbooks

Run N Gun OffenseOffense Superstar HB Receiving Superstar QB Gunslinger Superstar WR Deep Threat Superstar WR RAC Vikings OffenseOffense NFL Live Vikings OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Curls out of Shotgun Trey Open lines up three receivers to the trips side with a lone TE/WR to the weak side running a deep comeback route. On the trips side the outside receiver runs a curl at the sticks, the middle slot man clears vertically to the corner, and the inside slot runs a shallow flat route underneath. The single receiver away from the trips runs an inside curl that settles across the middle after breaking off his vertical stem. This is a zone beater built around curl and flat combinations that stretch the field horizontally and vertically, with the primary read starting on the trips side curl route and working to the deep clear-out route if the underneath window is closed.

Defensive Reads

Identify if the defense is playing zone or man before the snap by watching linebacker depth and cornerback press alignment, since this play thrives against Cover 2 and Cover 3 zone shells. Watch the flat defender on the trips side after the snap, if he sits and reads the quarterback's eyes he can undercut the shallow flat route and jump the underneath throw. Key the middle linebacker or nickel defender responsible for the curl zone, if he stays shallow the curl will have a soft window but if he sinks with depth the throwing window collapses fast. Against man coverage, the curl routes lose most of their value since defenders can mirror the break, so look for a nano blitz or user blitz threat off the edge which forces a quicker decision than the play design wants. Watch for a deep half safety rotating late to the trips side, which signals Cover 3 and opens up the backside single receiver curl route as the better matchup read.

Usage Tips

Target the trips side curl route first since it settles into soft spots against zone drops and gives you a quick, high percentage completion. Use this on third and medium to third and long since the curl depth typically matches sticks and the flat route underneath punishes any linebacker who sinks too deep. Check the safety alignment pre-snap; two deep safeties usually means the curl will have a soft window in the seam between the flat defender and the deep half defender. Pair Curls with Curls Combo or Curls X Go in your play calling sequence so defenders start jumping the curl breaks and get burned by the double move or vertical release out of the same look. Hot route the backside single receiver into a quick out if you see man coverage with no help over the top, since the curl breaks are more effective against zone drops than tight man coverage.