Playbooks

Flanker Curl

Singleback·Ace·12

Curl Pass Play

Play diagram for Flanker Curl from Singleback Ace in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationSingleback

SetAce

Personnel

121 RB · 2 TE · 2 WR

In 2 playbooks

Run N Gun OffenseOffense Superstar QB Scrambler

Breakdown

Flanker Curl out of Singleback Ace 12 personnel shows a route combo built around a curl from the flanker, an over route from the inline TE working across the middle, a deep dig from the backside X, and an HB releasing to the flat before turning it upfield on a wheel. The offensive line is in a five man pass protection look, keeping the back in as a check release before he works out. This is a zone beater at its core, using the curl to sit in the soft spot underneath deep zone coverage while the wheel and dig stretch the field vertically on both sides. The primary read progression starts with the flanker curl against zone drops, moves to the TE over route working the middle voids, and finishes with the HB wheel as a big play answer versus zone defenders who bail deep too fast.

Defensive Reads

Read the safety alignment pre-snap, since two high safeties suggest zone coverage that lets the curl and wheel routes work, while a single high safety suggests man coverage or Cover 3 that requires quicker decision making. Watch the flat defender and hook to curl linebacker depth at the snap, since shallow drops signal zone coverage that clogs the curl read and pushes you toward the TE over or HB wheel. Key the cornerback over the flanker, since a corner playing off with outside leverage is vulnerable to the curl sitting down in front of him, while tight press alignment signals man coverage that beats the standard curl route. Identify blitz packages by checking for a linebacker or safety creeping toward the line before the snap, since the HB check release into the flat and wheel is a built in answer to five and six man pressure looks. Watch for user controlled defenders sitting in the shallow curl zone or spying the middle of the field, since a smart user will jump the curl route, which should push your read to the TE over or the backside dig instead.

Usage Tips

Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to see if the defense shifts from a two high shell into man coverage, since the curl route is far more effective against zone drops than tight man coverage.

If you diagnose Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells pre-snap, prioritize the curl route sitting down in the zone window in front of the flat and hook defenders.

Against man coverage, hot route the flanker curl into a curl to flat or speed out to create separation, since the standard curl will get sat on by underneath man defenders.

The HB wheel route is a home run shot versus zone defenses that get lazy on flat coverage, so use this on early downs when the defense is more likely to play base zone looks.

Pair this play with Curl Flats and Flanker Drive in your play calling sequence, since the mirrored route concepts make it hard for defenders to jump routes based on formation recognition alone.