Playbooks

Curls

Shotgun·Y Off Trips Wk·11
CurlPass Play
Play diagram for Curls from Shotgun Y Off Trips Wk in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

Balanced Pass OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Curls out of Shotgun Y Off Trips Wk features a trips side with a curl route from the outside receiver, a deep in cut breaking underneath from the middle trips receiver, and an out route from the inner slot receiver that settles at the sideline. The backside receiver runs a vertical up the numbers, giving a clear high low read against man or a stretch against zone. This is a zone beater at heart since the curl to flat combination on the trips side floods the underneath zones and creates natural throwing windows against Cover 3 and Cover 2, though the deep in can also work against man leverage. Primary progression starts with the backside vertical on a pre-snap coverage check, then works to the curl on the trips side, followed by the deep in and the flat out as checkdown options.

Defensive Reads

Watch for Cover 3 zone drops where the curl route settles in front of the flat defender, creating an easy pitch and catch for the quarterback if the underneath defenders squeeze too tight. Identify Cover 2 shells since the deep in route can split the seam between the flat defender and the deep half safety if the linebackers overcommit to the flat. Look for man coverage on the backside vertical receiver, particularly press man, as this eliminates the quick option and forces the quarterback to work through the trips concept. Key on blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge, since the trips side routes are designed to hit quickly against man pressure but the quarterback needs a clean pocket to progress through the reads. Beware of a user controlled defender lurking in the shallow middle zone who can jump the deep in route if the quarterback stares it down too long.

Usage Tips

Check the safety alignment before the snap to determine if you are facing two high or single high shells, since this play thrives against two high zone looks where the curl and deep in sit in the soft spots.

Hot route the backside vertical receiver into a slant if you diagnose man coverage with no safety help over the top, turning this into a quick man beater.

Use this play on second and medium to third and medium situations where the sticks align with the curl and out route depth.

Pair this with Dig Cross or Bounce Slot Cross from the same set to keep the defense guessing between horizontal stretches and vertical shots off similar trips alignment.

User the backside vertical receiver against aggressive user linebackers who like to jump the curl route, since it opens a big play window if the defense overcommits to the trips side.

Other Plays in Y Off Trips Wk