Madden 21 Spread Playbook Mini Scheme

Playbook: Spread

Formation: Gun Normal Y Off

Play: Overview Video

Overview:

In this video, I break down my personnel groupings that I like to use for each WR spot in this scheme, as well as what I look for in a QB and RB. My preferences are as follows:

• Best WR – Left outside WR position
• Fastest WR – Left slot WR position
• Best remaining WR – Right Outside WR
• TE – Fastest TE (unless the team has a very good but average speed TE option)
• QB – I prefer a mobile QB with this scheme

Teams I like to use this with in regular Head to Head – Ravens, Chiefs, Panthers, Eagles, Bills.

Playbook: Spread

Formation: Gun Normal Y Off

Play: Midline Read Opt

Overview: Midline Read Option is one of my favorite designed QB run plays this year. The give to the RB is a viable option and can allow you to get to the sideline and turn upfield for a good gain; however, my preferred option is to keep with the QB. Do not use turbo until you pick a decisive hole that you are running into, and then press turbo for a long gain.

Playbook: Spread

Formation: Gun Normal Y Off

Play: MTN HB Swing

Overview: This is a great automotion play that is difficult to stop toward the left side of the field. It is something that will have to be user guarded, because most defensive looks vs this offense will only have 1 or 2 defenders on the left side of the field. If they have anything less than 3 defenders, I like to run this play and take advantage for a big gain.

Playbook: Spread

Formation: Gun Normal Y Off

Play: Jet Touch Pass

Overview: This touch pass play is one of the most dangerous runs in the game. The automotion is very quick, and will catch your opponent off guard not being able to shift their defense to the side we are motioning to. Even if your opponent tries to set the edge, this play has the RB taking a lead block to the outside and cleaning up the most outside defender. This creates a nice alley to run in behind with our speedy slot WR.

Playbook: Spread

Formation: Gun Normal Y Off

Play: 45 Quick Base

Overview: 45 Quick Base is a good run to hit the left inside of the field. We have the motion screen that will attack toward the sideline, and by using that play it will force our opponents to play wide to stop the screen. When I notice this, I then go to the base play and hit right in between the guard and tackle for a big inside gain.

Playbook: Spread

Formation: Gun Normal Y Off

Play: Y Shallow Cross (Cover 3 Bomb)

Setup:

1. Smart route X/Square
2. Max Protect
3. Put Y/Triangle on a streak

Reads:

1. The deep post route to X/Square is the only viable read on this play. Roll right if necessary, and throw away if it is not open

Overview: This play is really just a one man read, but it is absolutely deadly when used against a cover 3 defense. The streak is very important as it will hold the safety down the seam, leaving the post to come underneath and across the field. As discussed in the video, it is not absolutely necessary to max protect but I do as it gives me as much time as possible. I am more worried about having time to get the deep bomb off than I am hitting a short safety route.

Playbook: Spread

Formation: Gun Normal Y Off

Play: Strong Flood

Setup:

1. Put A/X on a streak
2. Put Y/Triangle on a slant

Reads:

1. The first read is the hole shot to B/Circle vs Cover 2, or the table route to the running back in the flats if there is no immediate flat defender
2. The second read is down the seam to A/X
3. The third read is the slant across the field to Y/Triangle
4. The final read is the dig route late over the middle

Overview: This play functions very similarly to four verticals, but has two specific differences: the table route to the RB in the flats, and also the two crossing routes working over the middle on the backside of the read. This allows us to simply read the right side of the field every time, and then have routes working back over the middle if we do not have anything immediately open.

Playbook: Spread

Formation: Gun Normal Y Off

Play: Four Verticals

Setup: No setup needed

Reads:

1. I read either the left outside WR(X/Square) or right outside WR(B/Circle). If the corner squats like a cover 2 look, throw the hole shot
2. If it is not cover 2, I immediately look inside and look to throw either seam route

Overview: Four Verticals has been a staple quick hike for me all year long, and I love the way it attacks any zone coverage this year. Both outside fade routes will be open vs cover 2, and the seam routes will do a great job of attacking the defense down the field and putting the middle safety in a bind vs cover 3.

Playbook: Spread

Formation: Gun Normal Y Off

Play: Curl Flats

Setup: None

Reads:

1. The first read is a quick throw to the TE A/X in the right flats
2. My second read is the curl route to B/Circle in behind
3. My third read is flipping my eyes across the field and reading the curl flat combo on the left side

Overview: Curl Flats is my go to short yardage situation route combo against zone. The way zones play, both in real life and in madden, Curl flats is perfectly designed to exploit it. If the defenders dive down to the flats, throw the curls in behind. If the zones stay on the curls, throw the flats.

Playbook: Spread

Formation: Gun Normal Y Off

Play: PA Jet Sweep

Setup: N/A

Reads:

1. The first read is the A/X on the short over route
2. The second read on this play is the post route to B/Circle
3. The final read on this play is the comeback route late to X/Square

Overview: This play is effective because it works in conjunction with our Jet Touch Pass play. That play is so effective that our opponent has to run over with their user, which will leave the other routes wide open on this play when they realize that we are not running the jet run play. The post on this play is extremely effective at beating both man and zone, and it is the staple for this play.

Playbook: Spread

Formation: Gun Normal Y Off

Play: Spot Wheel

Setup:

1. Smart route B/Circle

Reads:

1. The first read is a high low between B/Circle on the post and A/X on the curl. The hook zones will either get depth, or play shallow on the curl
2. My second read on the play is to read the spot route to the left(X/Square), and throw the wheel to Y/Triangle in the hole shot if I notice that it is a cover 2

Overview: Spot Wheel is a perfect spin off the motion from our Mtn HB Screen play. Usually, some of these plays that run fake motions are sort of gimmicks that do not have effective route combos. That is not the case with Spot Wheel, as it has effective stock routes that we can use to attack any zones. The post is open against cover 3, cover 4, and man. The wheel route is open vs cover 2, and the spot route and curl will be open against every coverage. This allows us to confidently attack any defense.

Playbook: Spread

Formation: Gun Normal Y Off

Play: HB Slip Screen

Overview: The slip screen is yet another unique misdirection play in this scheme that is extremely effective, especially considering how much of a bind our opponent’s user will be trying to guard all of these plays. They will be running left and right with motions, watching the QB runs, and then get hit with a slip screen at the worst possible time which will result in a big play for us.