Playbooks

Curl Flat

Shotgun·Trio Y-Flex·11
FlatCurlCurl FlatPass PlayCover 2 BeaterCover 3 Beater
Play diagram for Curl Flat from Shotgun Trio Y-Flex in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

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Breakdown

Curl Flat out of Shotgun Trio Y-Flex sends the backside receiver on a deep vertical clear-out while the inline TE runs a corner route to stretch the defense downfield on that side. On the strong side, the outside receiver runs a curl route sitting at intermediate depth and the back or slot runs a flat route underneath, forming the classic curl flat combo to attack the boundary. This is a zone beater built to punish Cover 2 and Cover 3 shells by working the flat defender with a horizontal stretch while the curl settles into the void behind him. The primary read progression starts with the flat route to hold the corner or overhang defender, then works to the curl sitting down in the zone, with the deep corner and vertical routes as home run shots if the safety bites underneath.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify whether the corner over the curl side is playing press, soft, or bailing into a deep third, since that tells you if the curl window will be open or if the QB should look flat first. Watch the flat defender depth at the snap, if he sinks hard to take away the curl the flat route will be wide open underneath for an easy pitch and catch. Cover 3 shells with a curl to flat player trying to cover both routes are the primary vulnerability this concept exploits, forcing a horizontal stretch that one defender cannot cover. Cover 2 with a hard sink from the flat corner and an aggressive underneath linebacker can shut this down, so check for a user controlled defender sitting in the passing lane between the curl and flat before committing to that read. Man coverage with no help over the top can be beaten by the backside corner or vertical route, so if you see man alignment pre-snap consider skipping the shorter routes and going directly to the deep shot.

Usage Tips

Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to bait the flat defender into showing his hand before the snap so you know if he is sinking or jumping the flat. This play thrives on second and medium or third and short since the flat and curl combo gives you a quick, high percentage completion window against zone drops. If the corner is playing off and soft, look to hot route the flat man into a quick out to speed up the timing against Cover 4 shells. Pair this call with Mtn Stick or Slot Under H-Angle in the same set so the defense has to respect both a stick concept and a curl flat concept from identical formation looks. Against aggressive user linebackers who jump the flat route, use the deep corner or vertical route on the backside as a built in answer since the defense has to choose who to take away.

Other Plays in Trio Y-Flex