Offense - NE Playbook - Shotgun - DBLS Wing

These plays are in the NE playbook in Madden 10 for the Xbox 360 and are listed as follows: 

Formation - Alignement - Personnel - Play

I always try to keep my personnel the same across all my plays so my opponent can't tell what play is coming simply how many WR's, TE's or RB's are in the formation and to keep my best players on the field.

I purposefully skipped and don't use plays from the Doubles formation because I think all the best plays from that formation are also in DBLS Wing TE and DBLS Wing TE has 3 or 4 additional plays.  The same plays in the normal Doubles formation are just as good.

Shotgun - DBLS Wing TE - Normal - Slot Screen

This play is great when used in the right situation.  It works against zone or man, but you really want to hit it against a zone D with a blitz.

You need to hot route both your TE and WR to slant routes (A and B receivers).  When you hike the ball all you need to do is watch the nearest defender to your slot receiver (LB).  If the defender backs away from your slot receiver it's zone...game on...throw LB the ball just before the defensive end hits your QB and you should have a big gainer (maybe even a TD if your blockers do a good job).  If the defender moves towards your slot receiver it's man, just throw to A or B.  I'd hit A first as he's less likely to get jammed or have a safety intercept the pass, but if you've already run the play and your opponent is looking for the pass to the TE (or there is no safety help) a quick slant to B can go for a huge gain.

Expert tip:  I prefer to use this play sparingly as it's great for big plays but won't take too long for someone to figure out.  Ideally it will be 2nd and short on my side of the 50 yard line or a crucial third down. 

Shotgun - DBLS Wing TE - Normal - FL Screen

Again, you want to try to hit this play against zone, but particularly cover 3 when the CB over your target WR (receiver B) backs-up on the snap into a deep zone.  If you get this D, this pass is a big play waiting to happen...simply throw it to B.

However, if you get man or a Cover 2 where the CB over your target steps-up the play takes a little finesse.  In either situation you can still throw to B, but you HAVE TO make sure the CB gets blocked other wise you'll be tackled immediately for a loss, the ball will be batted down or worse, it will be a pick 6 the other way.

If you get man, you can always throw the slant to LB, and if it's cover 2 you should be able to still throw the screen because there's less guys trying to break it up then there are in zone.

Expert Tip: As with all pass plays trying to go to the flats, watch your opponent putting the DE to QB contain.  If they do, the DE will be standing right in between you and your intended receiver.

Shotgun - DBLS Wing TE - Normal - Inside Cross

I love this play.  If you want to eat up an aggressive man D, this is your play.  Just keep running it anytime you need yards.


You need to hot route receiver LB to a vertical route.  However, receiver A you should only hot route if once you've seen how your opponent will defend this play after they've seen it.


Against a normal man D, you RB (receiver Y) is going to be wide open in the flat almost immediately.  Throw it to him and receiver A turns into a nice down field blocker.  Once you've run this play though, you're opponent might start moving the guy covering Y to the flat to stop this play (or controlling someone else and trying to stop it).  This is when you hot route your TE (receiver A) to the slant.  He'll catch it with two blockers in front of him...money.


Ideally you want to run this play versus a man D, but you can't pick what your opponent will do.  If you get a zone you still have options.  In most zones the vertical route from the slot (receiver LB) will open up almost immediately as the nearest defender moves outside of him towards the sideline.  You must make the read and throw the pass fast otherwise the safety of inside LB will break up the play...but it's a great pass with TD potential because you're receiver only has to beat the safety to the open field.  If he's covered you can look for your TE (receiver A) if he hasn't been hot routed as he moves away from the inside zone defender and towards the safety (again, this is a tight throw but can be a huge gain).  Since both the first two options are throws that need perfect timing, you can always dump it off to your WR (receiver B) on the hitch route.  Against zone, he should be sitting there wide open.


Expert Tip:  If you're opponent is blitzing the house and playing Man behind it you can throw the ball immediately on the snap to your motioning WR (receiver B) for a long TD.  He should catch it as he's moving away from the line of scrimmage and be gone TD.  However, if it's not a full blitz or it's mistimed it could be a pick and you can't hot route your TE (he picks the CB covering your WR as he leaves the line).  I love this play, but I still throw the occasional pick when I try this option.

Shotgun - DBLS Wing TE - Normal - Inside Cross

This play is great if your opponent is running zone coverages without much of a rush.  It takes a little time to develop can be a big play.


All you need to do is hot route your running back to a vertical route and wait for the middle safety do follow your TE (receiver A) to the left.  The safety on the right should be preoccupied with your WR (receiver B) leaving your RB (receiver Y) open down the right hash mark.


If the route is covered or it's man coverage you should still have one of your other two receivers open (X or LB) crossing the field.


Expert Tip:  If you opponent is rushing three guys or less and dropping everyone else into zone you can hot route both outside WR's (receiver X and B) to vertical routes which will get the RB (receiver Y) even more open.


Shotgun - DBLS Wing TE - Normal - DBL Cross

 This play is great because you don't have to do anything and it works against almost all defenses (you just have to make the read).


Receiver B is usually open against most D's as long as you throw the ball just after he makes his break to the inside.  If your opponent see this though they may spotlight that receiver in the future and the safety will be in position to intercept the pass.


Usually, I prefer to go to my RB (receiver Y) or the other WR (receiver X) against zone coverages.  Y is either open immediately or has to swing around the flat zone coverage for a much bigger play (it just takes longer).  X is usually open right when he makes his break because the inside zone defender will follow LB across the formation leaving a big gap in the zone for X to break into.  Against a blitzing zone usually LB or A are open.


Against man, the running back in the flat (receiver Y) is a good bet or the WR deep (receiver B), but if you can buy a little time in the pocket you want to hit the TE (receiver A).  All the defenders are being pulled to the right and if he beats his man there's only a safety to out run for TD.


Using these 5 plays in rotation will keep the defense guessing and you should be able to make consistent first downs, occasional big plays, score more touchdowns and win more games.