Playbooks

Curl Flat Corner

Shotgun·Trips HB Wk·10
FlatCurlCornerCurl FlatPass PlayCover 2 BeaterCover 3 Beater
Play diagram for Curl Flat Corner from Shotgun Trips HB Wk in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 4 playbooks

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Breakdown

Curl Flat Corner is a trips-side concept out of Shotgun Trips HB Wk that stacks three routes on the right side while the backside receiver runs a shallow out to hold defenders from flowing over. The outside trips receiver clears vertical on a corner route, the middle trips receiver settles into a curl at intermediate depth, and the inner slot receiver releases to the flat, creating a high low stretch on any defender responsible for that quarter of the field. This is a zone beater built to attack Cover 2 and Cover 3 by putting a flat defender and a deep half or deep third defender in conflict, and the primary read progression starts at the corner route to test the cornerback or deep safety before working down to the curl and finally the flat as the checkdown.

Defensive Reads

Identify pre snap whether the defense is showing two deep safeties, since a single high shell puts extra pressure on the flat defender and opens the curl route. Watch the flat defender at the snap, if he sinks or hesitates the flat throw becomes an easy pitch and catch against Cover 2 or Cover 3 sink technique. Key the deep half or deep third defender's leverage on the corner route, aggressive user controlled defenders jumping the corner will leave the curl wide open underneath. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is vulnerable to the corner route beating a trailing cornerback, so check for man leverage indicators like tight press alignment before the snap. Watch for a blitz off the slot or trips side, since the quick flat and curl reads become critical outlets when protection is compromised by extra rushers.

Usage Tips

Read the deep safety alignment before the snap to confirm whether you are seeing two high shells or a single high look, since this concept thrives against two high zone coverage.

If the corner route is capped by a deep half safety sitting over the top, work the curl to flat progression immediately instead of forcing the deep ball.

Hot route the backside out route into a deeper comeback or drag if you need a true checkdown on the opposite side against aggressive underneath zone drops.

Use this play on second and medium to third and medium downs where the curl sitting at the sticks becomes a live conversion option if the corner is taken away.

Pair this with Curls or All Curl earlier in a series to condition the defense to sit underneath, then come back to Curl Flat Corner to hit the corner route when safeties bite on shorter routes.

Other Plays in Trips HB Wk