THE BAYOU SPREAD OFFENSIVE GUIDE
INTRODUCTION:
Spread is back baby! The Bayou Spread Offensive Guide is the kind of offense that lights the world on fire. This offense gives you the ability to pass the ball like a seasoned pro, as well as have access to some of the most dominating runs available in Madden 18. Everyone feels like they have a good offense this year, but this is a GREAT offense with every play setup to have multiple progression based reads to destroy any defense that your opponent thought he was in.
Below you will find each formation with its own section laid out within tabs. When possible we will also go over an advanced strategy that may require more adjustments, a complete understanding of the formation, or quicker fingers to complete the play. Make sure to learn the entire body of content to ensure that your offense is running on all cylinders.
So lets jump into it, and start learning The Bayou Spread Offense. Thanks for checking out the guide and be sure to tweet us @maddenturf or review us on http://facebook.com/maddenturf after you have gone through the guide to let us know your thoughts!
DBLs Y-Flex Offset Wk
The Bayou SpreadNow that we have a game that allows you to pick up pressure without needing a TE on the line of scrimmage, it’s time to get serious about the spread. In this section of the guide we will provide you a complete offense from Doubles Y-Flex Offset Weak, which is an 11 personnel spread set. We will go over several passing plays, the run game, picking up pressure, and a few advanced tactics from the formation.
Watch the intro below, and then move into the basic 2×2 setups. Once you have a good grasp on how each of the basic setups work, move onto the audibles and slides sections to learn how to really round out your offense. Finally, when you are ready, head to the advanced tabs and learn some of the routes and concepts that can exploit your opponent’s coverage.
BENEFITS OF THE SPREAD:
- Forces Your Opponent To Matchup, Creating Inside Running Lanes
- Makes It Incredibly Difficult For Your Opponent To Play User Defense
- Offers The Flexibility Of Using Slides To Create Additional Formations
WEAKNESSES OF THE SPREAD:
- Can Struggle Against Match Defenses In The 2×2 Look
- Great Man Press Defense Can Limit Available Routes
- Requires A Good Offensive Line To Run The Ball
- Saints Mesh (3 Versions)
- Sail (2 Versions)
- Run Game (HB Power and Inside Zone)
Simply click the corresponding tab to learn a particular setup. We will have the written setup in there, but it is VERY important to watch the videos as well.
Setup:
- Slant the Right Outside WR
Video:
Setup:
- Place the Right Outside WR on Out Route
- Smart Route the Right Outside WR
Video:
Setup:
- Place the Left Slot WR on a Drag
- Adjust Right Outside WR as Needed (Optional)
Video:
Setup:
- Drag the Left Slot WR
- Streak the Right Slot TE
Video:
Setup:
- Fade the Right Outside WR
- Slant the Left Slot WR
Video:
Setup:
- None- See Video
Video:
- Slide Sail
- Slide Read
- Slide Smash Concepts (2 Setups)
- Slide Run Game
Simply click on the tab for the play you would like to learn. There will be a written setup, but it is VERY important to watch the videos to have a complete understanding of the setup, so please watch the videos.
SETUP:
- Block RB
- Drag Right Slot WR
VIDEO:
SETUP:
- Flat The Right Slot TE
- Motion The Right Slot To Left
VIDEO:
SETUP:
- Place The Right Outside WR on a Smoke Screen
- Motion The Left Slot to Right
VIDEO:
SETUP:
- Place The Left Outside WR on a Smoke Screen
- Place The Right Outside WR on a Slant
- Motion the Right Outside WR to the Left
VIDEO:
SETUP:
- Motion Appropriate Receiver (See Video)
VIDEO:
This section will discuss some additional advanced concepts to add to your offense as well as the ways that we can use pass protection to pick up pressure in this scheme. In this group we will cover;
- Comeback Concept
- Fade Concept
- Protection Schemes
Simply click on the tab for the concept you would like to learn. Due to the nature of these concepts, there will not be any written setups so please watch the video to gain a complete understanding.
The comeback route can be used to glitch out a Cover 3 defense. You must identify the coverage at the snap of the ball, if you do not you are risking throwing an interception into a Cover 2 defense. You must also use the correct pass lead to ensure you get the desired animation from the cornerback.
VIDEO:
The fade route can be used to throw a one play touchdown against base aligned cover 2 defense to the wide side of the field. This is mostly due to the formation being very wide in comparison to most other formations in the game. Check the video for the correct timing and pass trajectory.
Pass protection is obviously a very important part of any scheme, and for the most part this year simply blocking the RB will do the job. Sometimes however, you may want your RB to still be on his route (Saints Mesh Slant) and need alternative ways to pick up the blitz. We will be using max protect slides for this, check the video for the full details.
VIDEO:
Pistol Bunch TE
All Aboard For Pound Town!This year we are seeing both an overpowering passing and running games. To take advantage of that we are diving into a formation that can be lethal on the ground and in the air. While Pistol Bunch TE has its limits it does allow us to place defenses in an awkward position for defending it.
Watch the intro below discussing how we want to break the formation down for passing and running. We will be using setups with no motion, and 2 different motions that help create the most open passing possible from the formation. Additionally with the run game being better to the bunch side we will need to mix in playmaker the run to that side (and faking it too).
BENEFITS OF PISTOL BUNCH TE:
- Forces Your Opponent To Pick Their Poison
- Offers The Flexibility Of Using Slides To Create More Spread Out Passing Similar to Gun Bunch
WEAKNESSES OF PISTOL BUNCH TE:
- All Of The Best Runs Require A Playmaker To The Bunch Side
- Zero Blitzes Can Force Throws As The Best Man Beating Routes Take Time To Develop
- Run Game
- Cross Drags
- Spot Option
- Verticals
Simply click the corresponding tab to learn a particular setup. We will have the written setup in there, but it is VERY important to watch the videos as well.
Setup:
- Swing RB to the bunch side
Video:
Setup:
- Place Outside Left WR on Baby In Route
- Streak the TE
Video:
Setup:
- Watch video for both setups
Video:
- Cross Drags
- Spot Option
- Saints Flood
- Verticals
Simply click the corresponding tab to learn a particular setup. We will have the written setup in there, but it is VERY important to watch the videos as well.
Setup:
- Swing RB to the bunch side
Video:
Setup:
- Place outside WR on an in route
- Streak the TE
Video:
Setup:
- Smart route the inside WR
Video:
Setup:
- Slant inside wr and motion left
- Drag Tight End
Video:
- Verticals
- Spot Option
- Flood
- PA Curls
- Cross Drags
Simply click the corresponding tab to learn a particular setup. We will have the written setup in there, but it is VERY important to watch the videos as well.
Setup:
- Please watch video for discussion of setups
Video:
Setup:
- Place outside WR on an in route
- Streak the TE
Video:
Setup:
- Smart route the point wr on certain situations
Video:
Setup:
- Place the point WR on an in route
Video:
Setup:
- Swing RB to the bunch side
Video:
Tight Slots
Update 9/4/17Tight Slots has been a popular go to formation for much of the community early on this Madden season. In this breakdown we will take a look at some of the more popular ways to use this powerful formation, as well as take a look at a great way to use it on the goal line.
Watch the intro below to get a good feel for the formation and then dive into the setups. We will go over running the formation without any motion at all as well a way to run it with motion too. One of the biggest benefits of this formation is how difficult the two run combo is to deal with at the goal line.
BENEFITS OF TIGHT SLOTS:
- Makes man coverage difficult to run because of natural picks and crosses
- Completely even formation making flipping plays easy without tells
WEAKNESSES OF TIGHT SLOTS:
- Compressed Receivers Make Usering Multiple Routes Easier For Your Opponent
- Zero Blitzes Can Force Throws Over the Short Middle or Flats
- Run Game
- Bench Switch
- Deep Post
- HB Wheel
Simply click the corresponding tab to learn a particular setup. We will have the written setup in there, but it is VERY important to watch the videos as well.
- HB Pitch
- HB Dive
Setup:
- Curl Route RB (Optional)
Video:
Setup:
- Streak Left Inside WR
Video:
Setup:
- Streak Right Outside WR
Video:
Setup:
- No Pre Snap Adjustments (Watch Video For Post Snap Instructions)
Video:
- Run Gm
- HB Wheel
Simply click the corresponding tab to learn a particular setup. We will have the written setup in there, but it is VERY important to watch the videos as well.
Runs Included:
- HB Pitch
- HB Dive
Video:
Setup:
- Place outside right WR on a flat route
- Motion the right outside WR to left
Video:
Mix In Plays
Update 9/12/17Sometimes you will play an opponent that does a very good job keying on what you want to do when you are running your offense from one or two formations with many of the same play calls. For this reason we have included 10 additional plays that are good from the Saints book that you can sprinkle in throughout the game.
This will help to keep your opponent off balance, and give your offense more longevity. Below you will find five plays from undercenter and five plays from shotgun. Use the ones you like, discard what you don’t.
- Singleback Ace: PA Sprint HB Flat
- Singleback Wing Stack: Curl Post Drag
- Singleback Doubles: PA Draw Shot
- Singleback Y Off Trio: WR Screen
- Weak Slot Flex: TE Corner
Simply click the corresponding tab to learn a particular setup. We will have the written setup in there, but it is VERY important to watch the videos as well.
SETUP:
- Streak Right TE
- Fade Right WR
VIDEO:
Setup:
- None
Video:
Setup:
- Block Runningback
- Drag TE (Optional)
Video:
Setup:
- None
Video:
Setup:
- Swing FB Left
- Place TE on In Route
Video:
This section will go over five additional plays that you can mix into your offense from the New Orleans Saints Offensive Playbook. They are all pass plays, however if a run play is worth mixing in as well it will be mentioned in the video. The plays covered in this section are;
- Gun Tight Offset TE: Saints In
- Gun Tight Offset TE: Playmaker Hitch Concept
- Gun Flex Y Off Wk: Double Post
- Gun Empty Y Saint: Saints Fork
- Gun Trey Y Flex: Flanker Dig
Simply click the corresponding tab to learn a particular setup. We will have the written setup in there, but it is VERY important to watch the videos as well.
This play gives you a route that is extremely hard to defend against without going to Cover 2 with hard flats, and then another route that exploits the hole in the deep middle of that zone should they make that change.
SETUP:
- Streak Left Slot WR
- Motion Left Outside WR to Right
VIDEO:
This concept is hell to defend for your opponent. Please be aware that is best executed with receivers that have the Playmaker ability in MUT. While still effective without it, it is not nearly as difficult to deal with.
Setup:
- Watch Video
Video:
This play is available throughout the game from several different sets, and gives the ability to beat both zone and man effectively.
Setup:
- Two Setups in Video
Video:
This might be one of the most popular Empty plays of all time. This year is no different. This play gives us great zone beating concepts, and because it’s an empty set, playing man against it really isn’t an option unless the person throwing the ball is blind.
Setup:
- Adjust Left Side RB as Needed (See Video)
Video:
In a set with Inside Zone, PA Crossers, and the always popular Level Sail, Flanker Dig is a great play to add into the mix because most likely it will not be what your opponent is setting up to defend.
Setup:
- Streak Inside Left WR
- Drag Left Middle WR
Video:
This section will go over some general tips to assist as things are brought to our attention;
- Playing vs Cover 4
Simply click the corresponding tab to learn a particular setup. We will have the written setup in there, but it is VERY important to watch the videos as well.
This is simply an overview of concepts to help beat the cover 4 defenses people are running. This was a request by our customers in an efforts to help with general ideas on how to defeat these types of defenses.
VIDEO:
A SHORT THANK YOU
Because We Care!As always we greatly appreciate your business and support. We look forward to providing you with the best content for offense and defense in Madden 18. If you have any questions about the offense please feel free to post them in the comments at the bottom of the page. This is our new method of providing on-site support for our content. Once you have finished going through the guide please make sure to reach out to us on Twitter @MaddenTurf and especially on Facebook where we would appreciate your 5 star review at;
http://facebook.com/maddenturf
Thanks again guys! Here is to a great season!
That Post Route in DBLs Offset is an Interception…any suggestions on how to throw it? Pass leading direction? Lob? Bullet? I’m pretty close to giving up on this playbook in MUT. Players are dominating me on D fence with Cloud flats playing everything effectively.
Unfortunately 91 zone killed the entire Doubles Offset formation. This guide was made before 91 zone was a thing. We sort of slipped up keeping this available for sale as long as we did, to attempt to make up for that we are in the process of recording new videos for a brand new guide as a replacement for anyone that bought this one.
Should be done within a week or so if I had to nail down a time line. We really regret not removing this guide from being available to buy as soon as that patch hit that changed the zones, but at the time there was only like one guy with 91 zone so none of us noticed the difference that threshold made….and as time went on it just sorta slipped through the cracks.
The new guide will be 5 formations with each and every video being recorded against 99 zone and 99 play rec. Hope you guys enjoy it!
Really looking forward to an update. I have been running saints PB for 3 years now so always looking for fresh setups out of it. Hate it when someone camps in cover 3 match or sky all game and I just can’t move the ball consistently against them. Seems like I can burn cover 4 and cover 2 easy enough but breaking cover 3 sometimes feels impossible.
Is this the west coast guide you’re talking about?
Any updates on when it is coming? Thanks!
Been using this book since launch. Feel like a lot of the stuff in here is dead bc of 91 zone. Dudes can just sit in one play on d all game and lock up everything. Chances of an update?
We were not looking to do an update here unless we find new things in the formations covered. We actually use this guide to play squads with and it works quite well.
Which plays vs 91 zone are you having trouble with? Keep in mind 91 zone is a pain vs anything, but its the route combos and reads that help. Attacking short, avoiding posts, using deep ins, etc are all your friend regardless of playbook.
I’m going to try this play style 1 more time, but its looking like this is completely dead.
Hey Dave, thanks for your support. Yeah the zone threshold pretty much killed this guide, and because the threshold wasn’t immediately noticeable after the zone patch (not many players had the threshold at that time) we really didn’t notice how much 91 zone affected this offense.
Instead of updating this guide, we will be replacing it with a new guide that has five formations recorded against 99 zone and 99 play rec (Future proof lol). We hope you like it, and apologize for letting this one sit so long without revisiting it to see how bad it became as better zone defenders came out. New guide should be on your ebooks page in a week or so, rough estimate.
Please add a section for playing vs tampa 2 in nickel 335. Dudes run nothing but tampa 2 335 odd in weekend league with the middle in a deep blue.
Use tight slots and pistol bunch te – make them pay for going db heavy vs you.
When focusing on running the ball and looking at traits what is the most important – Strength, Impact, Awareness, Run Block – Thanks Claymorexfreak
strength for sure is key – fat guys work well too as blockshed uses it as a factor
The videos won’t load or play for me
Is it a way that u have the videos on YouTube
Are you using a pc or mobile? Which browser?
We do not post the videos on Youtube, but use Vimeo instead for added privacy.
Advanced Fades video added to Dbls Y Flex.
Added a video to the bottom of the guide for tips on beating Cover 4
Do comebacks work against Cover 4 Show 2 out of 335 odd (the one that EVERYONE is running in WL that totally clamps your running game), where they press and shade underneath? I have had success with Salem, mesh, deep outs and draws but I always hesitate to throw a comeback in-game against this defense in-game.
Comebacks do work, but you need something underneath to take the flat zone from drifting back
This stuff really does not work in weekend league. At least not with an 84 overall team. So frustrating. Same with the defense. Literally none of the run defense works.
Yeah it seems EA really went overboard with having to pay to play this year ratings wise. The 91 zone dbs play literally every route, and that makes it a challenge. What i’ve done to combat this is use the dbls y flex spread concept and other mesh concepts to open up. Taking the short routes isnt sexy, but very effective.
As for the run d – post that comment on the d guide and we’ll get it squared away.
With ratings mattering more than ever it is trickier now. MY suggestion when playing the good squads is be prepared to take a lot of underneath routes in the middle of the field. The LBS in the game are not great at cpu covering, so you can attack them. The issue comes when trying to hit something outside and the godly dbs play every route. I abuse mesh concepts and tight slots currently in WL.
Put out a new offense without even finishing this one
Which play in particular? The advanced fade is something that is truly difficult to get off correctly. I can put something together, but will include a disclaimer.
the patch nerfed the double flex. not cool
double flex?
first formation gone over..
The formation was not patched at all. What happened is the DBS over power the WRS now rating wise which essentially takes the post out of our arsenal vs cover 4. To beat cover 4 you need to use comebacks and shallow crossing routes.
I have not read all of the comments so don’t know if its been asked but I am a big fan of seeing these schemes in action by the Pro’s. Any chance you can do a full game with both Offense and Defense or at least one of each, showing how you use this strategy in a online ranked match?
I agree…nice to see how you guys incorporate the different schemes into your playbook
2nd this
When is the Dbl Y Flex fades concept video coming?
Fades video coming soon?
where and what was updated. I’m not seeing anything as for as updated material.
TIA
The section at the bottom (tight slots) is all new.
Gun bunch? Pease
Gun Bunch is covered in the Offensive Success Series that was free to sign up for on the home page. If you missed it, we will be posting it as an article in the coming days.
Great plays guys. Tight Formation is great too. I recommend Tight.
GREAT update guys! You guys are the best out there. That’s why I come back every year! ??
Love the tight slots…
Will more formations be coming soon?
Updating today with more content!
Would like to see you guys look into singleback tight slots and make a scheme. That formation has a lot of potential and is hell to deal with. Also has same positions as the other two formations in the guide.
On its way in an update today sir! Thanks for the request.
ccpr53,
What is the best way to deal with getting pressed on every play? After I hit them with a few out routes (Saints Mesh Wheel audible smart out), they start pressing me every play and it really limits what I’m able to do.
Thanks!
Me too
Move to Bunch TE if they start pressing.
Pressing you from man or zone? If from man, do as Oogie suggested and audible into a compressed set. If pressing from zone however, it changes nothing. You can still dot the out route, if your WR is fast enough you can fade the outside right WR and possible have a TD, and of course you can still progress through the rest of your reads.
You think you could develope a redzone scheme
We’ll get a redzone scheme together.
Thank you this is very good! Do you think you’ll find any in blockable nanos?
Doubtful anything unblockable gets found. Honestly the game is better when heat can be blocked in some fashion.
I agree. I really like that people can’t come out in 1 defense like Nickle Blitz or Dollar Cover 2 Press and run it the whole game and get max pressure and coverage, along with great run support. I think the game is much better off, and people will adjust as the year goes on. They just don’t know what to do right now without getting to run only 1 defensive play all game.