Madden 08 - Shotgun Tight Fade Drag

Last year one of the most effective route combinations against normal man coverage was the Fade/Drag combo out the of the Shotgun Tight. This combo route left the receiver running the fade route wide open. EA fixed the coverage problem, well sort of. In this concept, we will show how it's still in the game, but it has to be done a different way.

Primary Patterns:

WR2 (X) - Fade
WR3 (Y) - Drag
WR4 (A) - Drag
WR1 (B) - Fade

Offensive Play Used:

Defensive Play Used:

How the Concept Works on the Field:

We put the Shotgun Tight X Option in as our X audible. Any Shotgun Tight play will do.

We come out in the Shotgun 4WR X Option. Again any 4WR, Normal, or just about any other formation it will work. Of course you will want to lab it to make sure.

The defense called is the Dime Normal 2 Man Under. Keep in mind this concept only works against normal man coverage.

We audible down into the Shotgun Tight.

We hot route the WR2 on a fade and WR3 on a drag.

We also hot route the WR4 on a drag and the WR1 on a fade.

We highlighted the RCB. Watch what he does once the ball is snapped.

He will step inside as if he is going to cover the WR4.

This allows the WR2 to get open in the flat.

Notice the distance between the RCB and WR2.

We make the catch for a 7 yard pick up.

It also works the same on the right side of the field.

The LCB will step inside as if to cover the WR4.

This allows the WR1 to get open on the fade.

We make the catch and pick up 10 yards before being tackled.

Key Points:

• As we already stated this concept works only against normal man coverage and has to be audibled to the Shotgun Tight from another formation.
• The WR1 tends to get a little more open than the WR2 does.