Playbooks

Shakes

Shotgun·Trey Open·11

Pass Play Quick Pass Slant Out Wheel Hitch Slant Flat Man Beater

Play diagram for Shakes from Shotgun Trey Open in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetTrey Open

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 2 playbooks

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffense Air Raid OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Shakes is a quick pass concept out of Shotgun Trey Open with 11 personnel that attacks man coverage with a five man route distribution and no true blocker in protection. The three receiver side runs a slant flat combo from the closest slot into the flat, a slant from the middle receiver, and a wheel route from the outside receiver that clears vertically after settling. The lone receiver to the weak side runs a wheel up the boundary as well, giving the quarterback a clean two read progression: work the slant flat combo first for the quick throw, then climb to the wheel route for the explosive shot play if the corner bites on the underneath routes.

Defensive Reads

Look for man coverage alignment pre-snap with corners playing tight technique on the outside receivers, this is when the wheel routes are most dangerous since there is no safety rotation to help. Identify Cover 2 shells by checking safety depth, since the flat defender and corner over the top can squeeze the wheel route if they stay disciplined in their zone drops. Watch for a nano blitz or slot blitz from the defense, since Shakes has minimal blocking help and quick pressure up the middle can force the quarterback off his first read before the slant flat combo develops. Key the linebacker depth against the slant routes, if the backers sit shallow in man or zone they can undercut the slant and jump the throwing lane for a user pick. Against Cover 3 or Cover 4 zone shells, the wheel routes get swallowed by the deep defenders, so defenders should sink into their zone drops and trust the deep help rather than jumping the flat routes.

Usage Tips

Use this play on early downs or third and short since the slant flat combo gets the ball out fast and picks up easy yards against aggressive man coverage.

Pre-snap, check for man coverage indicators like corners lined up tight on the receivers with no safety help over the top, since the wheel routes will win big against man with no deep help.

Hot route the backside single receiver into a quick slant or hitch if you see a zone shell like Cover 3 or Cover 4, since the wheel route loses value against zone defenders sitting in deep thirds or quarters.

Pair Shakes with Y Cross Wheel or Mesh Wheel in your play calling sequence so the defense has to respect wheel route leverage on both sides of the field, opening up easier reads elsewhere.

Watch the flat defender and slot corner reaction at the snap, if they crash down hard on the slant flat combo, immediately go to the wheel route since the flat defender vacating leaves the sideline open.