Madden is a simple game to master when you have the right tools. In this free preview, we are going over 3 incredibly effective plays found in the Gun Empty Bunch Y Flex formation from our Madden 24 Kansas City Offensive eBook.
While it may only be 3 plays out of the 40 plays+ in the ebook, we’ll show you multiple ways to attack every common coverage in the game including cover 2, cover 3, cover 4 drop, man to man, and match coverage.
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Base Plays
Playbook: Kansas City Chiefs
Formation: Gun Empty Bunch Y Flex
Play: Swirl Hook N Go (Base Play)
Setup:
- Hot route your X/square running back to a drag route
- Hot route your Y/triangle tight end to a fade route
- Hot route your RB/R1 receiver to a streak route
- (Optional) Double team the outside most pass rusher on the right
- (Optional) Motion snap the A/X receiver (see video)
Reads:
- Your first read is always the running back on the drag route. Keep readinh im as he crosses the field. If he is ever open, throw it
- If he is covered, wait until your B/circle receiver gets open going the other way
Overview: This is one of the easiest 2 receiver reads in the game. It is impossible to user defend both of these routes so it will put your opponent in a tough position.
Playbook: Kansas City Chiefs
Formation: Gun Empty Bunch Y Flex
Play: Speed Out Dig (Base Play)
Setup:
- Hot route your Y/triangle tight end to a streak route
- Hot route the A/X receiver to a drag route
- (Optional) Hot route your B/circle receiver to a streak route
- Motion your running back into the backfield and block him
Reads:
- The first read on this play is always the A/X receiver on the drag route. If he is open, throw it
- If he is covered, look to the RB/R1 receiver deep on the crossing route
Overview: This is another really simple 2 man read that gets open against every coverage in the game. Just read where your opponent’s user defender goes and throw to the opposite receiver.
Playbook: Kansas City Chiefs
Formation: Gun Empty Bunch Y Flex
Play: Z Spot (Base Play)
Setup:
- Hot route your B/circle receiver to a streak route
- Hot route your tight end to a fade route
- Hot route your X/square running back to a drag route
Reads:
- Your first read is always the A/X receiver in the flat
- If he is covered, look to the RB/R1 receiver on the corner route
- Then look to your checkdown option either the running back or tight end
Overview: If the flat route is open, you should take it every time so that your opponent is forced to call hard flats. This will open up so much more on offense.
Cover 3 Beaters
Playbook: Kansas City Chiefs
Formation: Gun Empty Bunch Y Flex
Play: Swirl Hook N Go (Cover 3 Beater #1)
Setup:
- Make sure you are on the left hash mark
- Hot route the A/X receiver on a fade route
- Hot route your tight end and running back to streak route
- Double team the outside most pass rusher on the right
- Motion snap the B/circle receiver
Reads:
- Your only read on this play is the A/X receiver deep against cover 3 defenses. Lead pass to the sideline. If he isn’t open or if your opponent isn’t in a cover 3, throw the ball away
Overview: This is a shot play that can work well against cover 3 defenses. You will want to roll out to the right to get the passing angle slightly better.
Playbook: Kansas City Chiefs
Formation: Gun Empty Bunch Y Flex
Play: Swirl Hook N Go (Cover 3 Beater Setup #2)
Setup:
- Make sure you are on the left hash mark
- Hot route the A/X receiver to a fade route
- Hot route your tight end to a streak route
- Hot route your running back to a drag route
- Motion your B/circle receiver to the left
Reads:
- Your first read is the A/X receiver deep against cover 3
- If he is covered, you can throw to the B/circle receiver or the X/square running back
Overview: This setup has more receivers that can get open but it is a little harder to roll out. If you are expecting a heavy blitz with a cover 3 behind it, I prefer setup #1. If you are expecting a very light pass rush, I like setup #2 better.
Playbook: Kansas City Chiefs
Formation: Gun Empty Bunch Y Flex
Play: Z Spot (Cover 3 Beater)
Setup:
- Make sure you are on the left hash mark
- Hot route your B/circle receiver to a streak route and motion him to the right sideline
- (Optional) Hot route your X/square receiver to a streak route
Reads:
- You can always hit the A/X tight end in the flat
- But you’ll want to hit the RB/R1 receiver on the corner route against cover 3 defenses
Overview: This is an easy way to get 25-35 yards against cover 3 defenses. The route combination on the right side of the field is really difficult for zone defenses to stop.
Playbook: Kansas City Chiefs
Formation: Gun Empty Bunch Y Flex
Play: Speed Dig Out (Cover 3 Beater)
Setup:
- Make sure you are on the right hash mark
- Hot route the A/X receiver to a streak route
- Hot route your X/square running back to a comeback route
- Hot route your tight end to an in route or drag route
- Double team the outside most pass rusher on the left
- (Optional) Either motion snap the B/circle receiver or put him on a drag route
Reads:
- Your main read on this play is the RB/R1 receiver deep on the crossing route. Lead pass up and to the sideline
Overview: This is a nice way of beating cover 3 defenses to the left side of the field.
Cover 4 Drop Beaters
Playbook: Kansas City Chiefs
Formation: Gun Empty Bunch Y Flex
Play: Speed Dig Out (Cover 4 Drop Beater)
Setup:
- Make sure you are on the right hash mark
- Hot route your X/square running back to a comeback route
- Hot route your tight end to a drag route
- Hot route the A/X receiver to a streak route
- Double team the outside most pass rusher on the left
- Motion snap the B/circle receiver
Reads:
- Your primary read on this play is the RB/R1 receiver deep against Cover 4 Drop. If he is covered, just throw the ball away
Overview: This is an identical setup to the cover 3 defense beater from this Speed Dig Out play which makes it really versatile in case you catch your opponent in either defense.
Playbook: Kansas City Chiefs
Formation: Gun Empty Bunch Y Flex
Play: Swirl Hook N Go (Cover 4 Drop Beater)
Setup:
- Make sure you are on the left hash mark
- Hot route the A/X receiver to a streak route
- Hot route your RB/R1 receiver to a drag route
- Motion your X/square running back into the backfield and block him
Reads:
- Your main read on this play is the B/circle receiver deep against cover 4
- If he is covered, either hit a check down receiver or throw the ball away
Overview: Just make sure that your opponent’s user defender isn’t following the B/circle receiver and he should get open against Cover 4.
Playbook: Kansas City Chiefs
Formation: Gun Empty Bunch Y Flex
Play: Z Spot (Cover 4 Drop Beater)
Setup:
- Make sure you are on the left hash mark
- Hot route your B/circle receiver to a streak route and motion him to the right sideline
- Setup your left side of the field however you’d like (see video)
Reads:
- Your RB/R1 receiver should get even more open when your motion the B/circle receiver outto the sideline
- If he is covered, look to the A/X receiver in the flat
Overview: This is a consistent zone beater that should get your 25+ yards every time you call it. It doesn’t have 1 play touchdown potential but it is still really solid against cover 4 drop defenses.
Cover 2 Beaters
Playbook: Kansas City Chiefs
Formation: Gun Empty Bunch Y Flex
Play: Speed Dig Out (Cover 2 Beater)
Setup:
- Make sure you are on the right hash mark
- Hot route your B/circle receiver to a fade route and motion him to the right
- (Optional) Hot route your tight end to a fade route
- (Optional) Hot route your running back to a drag route
- (Optional) Hot route the A/X receiver to a drag route
Reads:
- Your primary read on this play is the B/circle receiver deep. Lead pass up and to the sideline once he gets past the underneath cornerback in the light blue zone
- If he is covered, look to one of your checkdown options
Overview: This play torches any cover 2 defense for a 1 play touchdown. The B/circle receiver will not get jammed at the line of scrimmage which allows him to get downfield quicker.
Playbook: Kansas City Chiefs
Formation: Gun Empty Bunch Y Flex
Play: Speed Dig Out (Cover 2 Beater – Setup 2)
Setup:
- Make sure you are on the left hash mark
- Hot route your X/square running back to a smoke screen
Reads:
- Your primary read on this play is the Y/triangle tight end against cover 2 defenses. Don’t throw it too earlier. Wait for the deep safety to react to the RB/R1 crossing route.
Overview: Setup 1 is significantly better than this setup because it can lead to a 1 play touchdown instead of just 25 yards but you will want to mix it up so your opponent can’t key in on a specific receiver.
Match Defense Beaters
Playbook: Kansas City Chiefs
Formation: Gun Empty Bunch Y Flex
Play: Speed Dig Out (Match Beater)
Setup:
- Hot route your B/circle receiver to a curl route
- Hot route the A/X receiver to a streak route
- Hot route your running back to a drag route
Reads:
- The A/X receiver should get wide open deep against most match coverages
Overview: This setup beats Cover 4 Quarters, Cover 4 Palms, and Cover 9 Show 2. The only match defense that is doesn’t beat for an instant touchdown is a Cover 6.
Playbook: Kansas City Chiefs
Formation: Gun Empty Bunch Y Flex
Play: Any Passing Play (Cover 6 Beater)
Setup:
- Hot route your X/square receiver to a curl route
- Hot route your Y/triangle to end to a curl route
- Motion the A/X receiver to the left and hot route him to a streak route
Reads:
- The A/X receiver should get wide open deep for a 1 play touchdown
Overview: You’ll only want to call this play in the very specific situation where your opponent is sitting in Cover 6 and you want to beat it deep.
Man To Man Defense Beaters
Playbook: Kansas City Chiefs
Formation: Gun Empty Bunch Y Flex
Play: Speed Dig Out (Man Beater)
Setup:
- Hot route the A/X receiver to a drag route
- Hot route your tight end to a streak route
- Hot route your B/circle receiver to a streak route
- Motion your running back to the right and put him on a wheel route
Reads:
- Your running back on the wheel route should get open against any sort of man to man defense, it just depends on the timing of it.
- If he is covered, just read between the A/X receiver and the RB/R1 receiver on their crossing routes
Overview: This setup is especially effective against Cover 2 Man defenses because the motion really gets the cornerback in man coverage on your running back out of position.
Playbook: Kansas City Chiefs
Formation: Gun Empty Bunch Y Flex
Play: Z Spot (Man Beater)
Setup:
- Hot route the A/X receiver to a streak
- Hot route the B/circle receiver to a slant
- Make whatever adjustments you’d like on the left side of the field
Reads:
- Your main read on this play is always the RB/R1 receiver on the corner route
Overview: You should be able to tell right after you snap the ball if your RB/R1 receiver wins and gets an outside release. If he is open, throw it to him.
Congratulation, you’ve now made it through 1/4th of our Kansas City offensive eBook. We usually release 10 ebooks per year, as well as weekly film rooms, and a dedicated coverage beaters section. You can get instant access to all of them by joining Madden School Unlimited risk free!
