Playbooks

Cheat Strong Flood

Shotgun·Y Trips Wk·11
FloodMotionPass PlayCover 3 Beater
Play diagram for Cheat Strong Flood from Shotgun Y Trips Wk in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 2 playbooks

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Breakdown

Cheat Strong Flood is a flood concept out of Shotgun Y Trips Wk that stacks three levels to the strong side. The backside receiver runs a vertical seam clearing space away from the flood, while the trips side shows a corner route pushing to the boundary, a deep out sitting behind it, and a flat route from the slot occupying the underneath defender. This is a zone beater built to attack Cover 3 and other single high shells by overloading one third of the field, with the corner route as the primary read against a cleared out flat defender and the flat route as the checkdown if the deep coverage stays over the top.

Defensive Reads

Watch the single high safety alignment pre-snap, since a true one high shell tells you Cover 3 is likely and the flood will stress the strong side flat and corner defenders. Read the cornerback depth on the trips side, if he sits soft off the line he is likely bailing into a deep third rather than pressing, which opens the corner route. Post-snap, track the flat defender's drop, if he widens with the flat route the deep out sits down in soft coverage for an easy pitch and catch. Look for a user controlled lurk defender sitting in the middle of the field, since he can jump the deep out route if the quarterback holds the ball too long. Cover 2 with two deep safeties can shut this down since it takes away the corner throw, so check for two safeties splitting the field pre-snap before committing to this call.

Usage Tips

Use pre-snap motion to confirm if the defense is playing man or zone before the snap, since the flood only stresses zone defenders in real space.

Key on the flat defender at the snap: if he sinks with the deep out, throw the flat route immediately before the linebacker can wall it off.

This play is ideal on second and medium or third and short to medium since it gives three stacked options against zone drops without needing a huge field.

Pair this with Cheat Slot Cross or Cheat Crossers in your play-calling sequence so you can attack the same look with a shallow crosser if the defense adjusts to the flood after seeing it once.

Against Cover 3 specifically, throw off the corner route timing since the deep third defender has to choose between the vertical seam and the flood, opening a natural throwing lane.

Other Plays in Y Trips Wk