Madden 08 - Shotgun Trips TE 3 Verticals 2 Underneath Concept

The Shotgun Trips TE 3 Verticals 2 Underneath Concept is a rock-solid choice to use against all zone coverages in Madden 08. It attacks different levels on the field to break the coverage down.

Patterns:

We use serveral pass patterns for this concept.

• WR2 (X) - Fade
• WR3 (Y) - Drag
• WR1 (B) - Seam
• TE (A) - Streak
• RB (RB) - Curl

Offensive Play Used:

Defensive Play Used:

How the Concept Works on the Field:

The Shotgun Trips TE play that we use for this concept is the TE Go, but we can use any pass play.

The defensive coverage called is the Quarter Normal Cover 3. The man align coverage audible has been used. This puts the LB back in the middle of the field.

To set up the Shotgun Trips TE 3 Verticals 2 Underneath Concept, we first hot route the WR2 on a fade route.

Next, we hot route the WR3 on a drag.

Next, we hot route the WR1 on a fade route. Notice, he runs his fade route to the inside. However, for this write up we will call it a seam route.

If the TE is not already running a streak, we will hot route him to do so.

We hot route the RB him on a curl.

Notice the three to the right side of the field that are highlighted in the screen shot above. We have no intention of throwing the ball anywhere in their area of the field.

Instead we will look to throw to the middle to the left side of the field. We have five receivers running pass patterns vs four defenders.

Once the ball is snapped, we look to throw a quick pass to one of three receivers. The WR3 (Drag), WR1 (Seam), or the TE (Streak). If a blitz is called, we must look to throw to one of them immediately.

If we have a little more time, we can wait for the WR3 (Drag) or RB (Curl) to run their two routes underneath the zone coverage. One of them will almost always be open regardless of the zone pass coverage.

If we decide to wait for our three receivers running the the three vertical routes (WR2, WR3, and TE), we like to roll our QB to the left.

If we look to throw to the WR1, running the seam route, we must wait for him to clear the zone coverage underneath.

Notice the SS is cheating towards the TE, this tells us we can make the throw to the WR1 by pass leading him to the left side of the field.

In the screen shot above, we press left on the Left Stick or D-pad to throw the pass. When doing so, we also throw a bullet pass. The ball must clear the defender underneath. It also must be thrown away from the SS.

We make the catch for 6.

Key Points:

• Users with good stick control can look to throw to the WR2 running the fade route. If he has a high spectacular rating, the user can take control of him and go for the ball. See for the write up called "User Stick" for more info how to make the catch.
• If the player on defense likes to bring the heat, look to keep the RB in to pass block.
• The WR1's seam route is very effective against most zone coverages. Just wait for him to clear the underneath coverage.
• You don't always have to roll the QB to the left, but it does help.
• The Shotgun Trips TE is the only formation in the book where the WR1 can be hot routed on a fade route to the inside without motion being used.