Playbooks

Curl Flat

Split Backs·Pro·21
FlatCurlCurl FlatPass PlayCover 2 BeaterCover 3 Beater
Play diagram for Curl Flat from Split Backs Pro in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationSplit Backs
SetPro

In 3 playbooks

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffenseMadden OffenseOffenseTwo Back OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Curl Flat out of Pro Split Backs (21 personnel) shows a five man route concept designed to attack zone coverage on the right side. The X receiver runs a deep out to the boundary, the flanker (marked as the number 1 read) runs a flat route underneath, and the TE works an outside dig back across the middle while the two backs stay in to block or check down. This is a Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater that stresses the flat defender and curl/hook defender with a high low read, and the primary progression starts with the flanker on the flat route before working to the curl or dig behind him.

Defensive Reads

Watch the flat defender's initial drop, if he sinks too deep the flanker route will be wide open underneath him. Check the curl or hook defender depth at the snap, a shallow drop signals Cover 2 or Cover 3 and opens the window for the flat throw. If the defense shows two deep safeties pre-snap, expect the corners to sit on the out route, so be ready to check down quickly. Look for a user controlled defender lurking in the flat, a common counter to this play is jumping the flat route with a user linebacker or slot corner. Blitz packages that send extra rushers off the edge can disrupt the timing of this play, so identify pre-snap pressure and be ready to get the ball out on time to the flat.

Usage Tips

Key the flat defender before the snap since the flanker route (the number 1 read) is designed to win quickly if a linebacker or nickel drops too deep into the curl zone.

If you see Cover 2 with corners sitting outside, hot route the flanker to sit down at 5 yards to stay under the deep half safety and away from the curl defender.

Use this play on second and medium or third and short since the flat route gives you a quick, high percentage completion against zone drops.

Pair this with Texas or Backs Cross from the same formation to give the defense conflicting horizontal stretch reads out of an identical backfield look.

Against Cover 3, work the progression from flat to curl to the dig since the underneath defenders will be spread thin across three levels.

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