Madden 21 Cover 1 Beaters

Playbook: Carolina Panthers

Formation: Gun Empty Trio

Play: WR Option

Setup:

1. Motion the RB/R1 receiver to the left
2. Put any of the other WRs except the B/circle receiver on any route you’d like

Reads:

1. The main read on this play is the B/circle receiver against cover 1 or cover 0 man to man defenses with press coverage

Overview: This play works best against cover 1 or cover 0 but can work still against cover 2 man. If your opponent puts a player in a purple zone, it may not work.

Playbook: Carolina Panthers

Formation: Gun Trips

Play: Stick Wheel

Setup:

1. Hot route the A/X receiver to a streak route
2. (Optional) Block your running back
3. Motion the B/circle receiver to the left and snap it before he gets set on the left (see video for timing)

Reads:

1. Against cover 1 or cover 0 defenses, look to the B/circle receiver on the corner route
2. Against cover 2/cover 2 man defenses look to the A/X receiver on the streak route. Lead pass to the inside
3. Your X/square receiver on the slant route should also get open against most man to man coverages.

Overview: This play can work against any sort of man to man coverage but it works best against cover 1.

Playbook: Carolina Panthers

Formation: Gun Doubles Y Off

Play: DBL Stop N Go’s

Setup:

1. Smart route both outside receivers

Reads:

1. Against cover 1 or cover 0 man coverage, at least one of the outside receivers should torch his man deep.

Overview: You can run this play from anywhere on the field if you are expecting cover 1 or cover 0.

Playbook: Carolina Panthers

Formation: Singleback Doubles

Play: Power Alert Bubble

Setup:

1. (Optional) Motion the X/square receiver to the right

Reads:

1. Your main read on this play is the slot receiver on the bubble screen against any man to man coverage

Overview: I like to run this play from the right hashmark but it can be run from any part of the field. It works great against any man to man coverage.

Playbook: Carolina Panthers

Formation: Singleback Doubles

Play: PA Y Glance

Setup:

1. Hot route the tight end to a drag route

Reads:

1. Against cover 1 or cover 0 defenses, your main read is the X/square receiver deep

Overview: Make sure you have a fast/elite wide receiver in the X/square position.

Playbook: Carolina Panthers

Formation: Singleback Wing Tight

Play: PA FL Stretch

Setup: None required

Reads:

1. Your main read on this play is the X/square receiver deep against cover 1 or cover 0

Overview: It is helpful to have a good/fast wide receiver in the X/square spot.

Playbook: Carolina Panthers

Formation: Gun Y Off Trio Wk

Play: PA WR In

Setup:

1. Motion the B/circle receiver to the left
2. (Optional) Block the running back to cancel the play action
3. Double team the outside most rusher on the left

Reads:

1. The main read on this play is the B/circle receiver deep against cover 1 or cover 0 defenses
2. If he is covered, just throw to the tight end underneath

Overview: The B/circle receiver should get a ton of separation on the cornerback covering him. Just wait for him to get all the way across the field and lead pass to the sideline.

Playbook: Carolina Panthers

Formation: Gun Double Stack

Play: Smash

Setup:

1. Hot route the Y/triangle receiver to a flat route

Reads:

1. Your primary read on this play is the X/square receiver right away

Overview: By default, defenders will not press cover when we are in this formation on offense. Many people will anyway though. This play only works if your opponent is in a man defense with press coverage.

Playbook: Carolina Panthers

Formation: Gun Double Stack

Play: Four Verticals

Setup:

1. Put your Y/triangle receiver on a flat route

Reads:

1. Your main read on this play is the X/square receiver deep

Overview: This play only works against cover 1 with press coverage.

Playbook: Carolina Panthers

Formation: Gun Bunch Open Offset

Play: Flood

Setup:

1. Hot route the RB/R1 tight end to a slant route
2. Hot route the A/X receiver to a flat route

Reads:

1. Your primary read on this play is your B/circle receiver on the streak route
2. If he is covered, you can read between the slant route and the deep in route

Overview: By default, defenders will not press cover when we are in this formation on offense. Many people will anyway though. This play only works if your opponent is in a man defense with press coverage.

Playbook: Carolina Panthers

Formation: Gun Trey Y-Flex

Play: PA Crossers

Setup:

1. Hot route your X/square receiver to a streak route
2. Block your running back
3. Make whatever other adjustments you want with your other receivers
4. Motion the X/square receiver to the right a couple of steps and snap it (see video for timing)

Reads:

1. The main read on this play is the X/square receiver deep against cover 1 or cover 0 defenses.

Overview: This is a great way to get your opponent out of man to man coverage if he doesn’t know what he is doing. Good opponents can stop this technique by setting their cornerback matchups to “play by speed” in the coaching adjustments.

Playbook: Carolina Panthers

Formation: Gun Spread HB Wk

Play: PA Bubble Y Over

Setup:

1. Motion your X/square receiver to the right
2. Block your running back
3. Do whatever you want with your WRs on the right side of the field

Reads:

1. Your primary read on this play against man to man coverage is the Y/triangle receiver on the screen

Overview: This play should beat any man to man coverage. This type of play is great because if the bubble screen isn’t there, you have an entire pass play behind it.

Playbook: Carolina Panthers

Formation: Gun Spread Flex

Play: RPO Read Screen

Setup:

1. Motion the X/square receiver to the right

Reads:

1. Against man to man defense, look to the Y/triangle receiver on the left

Overview: Try to run this play from the right hashmark so you have the most room to run when you catch the swing pass.

Playbook: Carolina Panthers

Formation: Gun Doubles Offset Wk

Play: PA Bubble Y Over

Setup:

1. Motion the X/square receiver to the right
2. Put the B/circle receiver on a drag route
3. Block your running back to cancel out the play action

Reads:

1. Your first read against man to man defense is the Y/triangle receiver on the bubble screen
2. If he is covered, look to the B/circle receiver on the drag route

Overview: This is another example of a play where we get a full passing concept but still have the bubble screen on the field.