Playbooks

Curl Flat

Shotgun·Trio Offset Wk·11

Flat Curl Curl Flat Pass Play Cover 2 Beater Cover 3 Beater

Play diagram for Curl Flat from Shotgun Trio Offset Wk in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetTrio Offset Wk

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 2 playbooks

Balanced Pass OffenseOffense Spread Classic

Breakdown

Curl Flat out of Shotgun Trio Offset Wk sends the two outside receivers vertical before breaking back into curl routes, sitting down in the soft spots of zone coverage, while the inside slot receiver runs a flat route to the boundary. The backside receiver runs a drag underneath, giving the QB a built in check against man pressure. This is a classic Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater that attacks the flat to curl window with a high low read on one side of the field, and the primary progression starts with the near side curl, works to the flat underneath it, then flashes to the backside drag if the zone squeezes the curl.

Defensive Reads

Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if the underneath linebackers sink hard into the curl windows the QB should reset to the flat route for an easy checkdown. Key the flat defender's reaction, if he widens quickly to take away the flat throw that confirms Cover 2 and opens the curl behind him for a bigger gain. Look for a user lurking underneath the curl route, since aggressive human controlled linebackers or safeties will jump this throw and bait an interception. Press man coverage on the outside receivers can disrupt the timing of the curl breaks, so check for tight corner alignment pre-snap and lean toward the backside drag or flat instead. Cover 3 shells with a deep middle safety will surrender the flat to curl combo consistently, but disguised blitzes that bring extra rushers off the edge can collapse the pocket before the second read develops.

Usage Tips

Identify the coverage shell pre-snap by checking safety depth, if you see two high safeties or a soft Cover 3 shell this play is a great call since the curls will find grass between the linebackers and the deep zones.

Use the flat route as your first hot key against Cover 2, since the flat defender has to widen for the receiver, opening a throwing lane for the curl sitting behind him.

Motion the backside receiver or send him in on a drag hot route against man coverage to give yourself a rhythm throw if the defense shows Cover 1 or Cover 3 with press corners.

Pair this play with Verticals or PA Niners Flood from the same set to keep defenders honest, since both plays start with similar vertical stems before Curl Flat sits routes down.

Best used on second and medium or third and short to medium, since the curl to flat combo gives multiple completion windows against zone without needing a full field stretch.