Playbooks

Salem

Shotgun·Trey Open·11
Pass PlayPlay ActionFloodCornerOutGoCurlFlatSeamDeep CrossCover 3 BeaterCover 2 Beater
Play diagram for Salem from Shotgun Trey Open in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

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Breakdown

Salem is a play-action flood concept out of Shotgun Trey Open that attacks one side of the field with three levels while the backside runs a deep cross. On the trips side, the outside receiver runs a corner route, the slot runs an out to the flat, and the inline receiver releases on a seam, creating a high low low flood read. The backside X breaks across the field on a deep cross while the single receiver away from the flood runs a curl into the flat void. This is a zone beater designed to stress cover 3 and cover 2 shells by working the flat to corner progression, with the deep cross serving as the answer versus man coverage or if the flood side gets taken away.

Defensive Reads

Check the safety alignment before the snap, two high shells are vulnerable to the corner route sitting behind the flat defender Watch the flat defender on the trips side, if he sinks with the seam route the out route underneath is wide open for an easy pitch and catch Identify the middle linebacker depth, if he bites on the play action fake the deep cross will separate quickly against man coverage Cover 3 defenders rolling hard to the flood side leave the backside deep cross uncovered in the void, this is the built in answer versus that shell Man coverage with no safety help over the top leaves the corner route as a big play threat, especially against slower linebackers matched on the seam

Usage Tips

Look for two high safeties pre snap to confirm cover 2 or cover 4, since the corner route behind the flat defender is the easiest completion versus those shells

If the defense shows single high safety, work the deep cross first since cover 3 defenders will widen with the flood and open a lane in the middle of the field

Use the play action fake on early downs, second and short or first and ten, to hold linebackers and open the seam route underneath the corner

Hot route the flat runner into a quick out if you see a corner blitz coming off the edge, this gets the ball out fast and punishes aggressive pressure

Pair Salem with Y Cross or Deep Cross in your play calling script so the defense cannot sit on the same flood read every series

Other Plays in Trey Open