Madden 24 - Atlanta Falcons Playbook
New Pistol Formations!
Ok so to be totally clear, I have no idea if these formations that I put in my Top 3 will actually be good or not, but I atleast love that they are brand new to the game + have potential.
I'm talking about the Falcons new Pistol Formations in Madden 24. Pistol Strong Slot Close, Pistol Wing Close, and Pistol Weak Y Off Close are my favorite but there are even more than that new to Madden and in this book. All Compressed which is usually a good sign for Madden success. I think they'll need some help with a route app abilities like Slot App or TE App but I'll be labbing these sets for sure this year. I just wish some of them weren't so useless cough cough Pistol Deuce Close. Pistol Full House Close is cool, just much better in Jags book.
(Litez's Thoughts)
Litez's Top 3 Favorite Formations in Atlanta Falcons Playbook Madden 24
Pistol Wing Close- Probably my favorite of the new Pistols in the Falcons book. Always loved TE Attack, C routes are good this year and those type of TE Corners are always good. So are Posts to Outside isolated wide receivers. Another thing always good in Madden? Hb Zones. This has solid scheme potential.
Pistol Strong Slot- Hard to do much with 6 plays but atleast you have a Stretch, Dive, Corner Route to either side, and Posts. I'm alittle frustrated this formation doesn't have the Triple Option because it was there in the beta (Jets live).
Pistol Weak Y Off Close - Not a formation you can live in, but certainly good enough to use with the 3 play combo Z Under, Y Corner, and HB Zone Wk. Pretty sure you can motion the running back out wide to both sides which I always love to see. Wish it had a FB Dive. Moral of the story to me for these Pistols is just that 6 plays isn't enough.
Thoughts & Analysis on the Atlanta Falcons Madden 24 Playbook by Brobean
- Pistol Full House Close
The Falcons offense is centered around the run game and mainly operating out of the pistol. Only 6 plays here so not a full scheme but for passing you have Corners to threaten the sidelines against man, PA cross to attack the middle with a skinny post and crosser, and curls has an angle route. The real benefit here is that you can flip the play without a tell, and the WR’s are compressed and get slot hot routes. Running game has a read option that could be glitchy
- Strong Y off Close, Strong Slot Close, Weak Y off Close
All three of these formations are incomplete, but combined they have some fun potential. Main reason to run something like this is to take advantage of the backs out of the backfield. I think RB wheels are going to be really good vs. man and audibling between these three can really mess with man alignments. PA Boot Left and Mills are nice vertical plays attack the sideline or deep middle. There are RPO’s and read options scattered throughout these formations. A running QB could make this fun.
- Pistol Wing Close
A compressed 3x1 Two TE set, this new formation has a good post from the TE and strong side WR, has a C Route to the solo WR and a short corner to the inside TE. If you motion the rb the the weak side, he lines up in a glitchy spot. Can use this as a cool 5 wide set, while still being able to block. If this had deep posts/corners, it would be worth a real look especially when HRM drops. For now it’s a dink and dunk set.
- Gun Bunch
The meta for so many years, it’s hard to judge just how good this can be considering the TE can’t be blocked. You can’t deny the fact that it has great routes and spacing. Speed dig might be a very nice bunch play this year with in breaking routes being very good. That outside late breaking in route is way better than a standard deep in. Smash return has a pivot and corner on the same side and we really think pivots and whips can be really good against man and blitzes this year. Y curl came out of nowhere last year and still can effective at attacking the weak side hook curl area with by the solo wr. 518 hook might be back. Was very good back in (m18/19?). You also have deep corner and, as we’ve mentioned many times throughout these write ups, having a deep post compressed might be the best route in the game this year. Putting the solo wr on a comeback has been a bomb since forever. Of course there’s verticals as well. For the run game you have a hb base and y lead read option. I really like this bunch. Wish it had bunch trail
- Trey Y Flex
Not my favorite formation because of blocking…however, Dagger is a really good play and tough concept especially in heavy zone years. Really wanted to highlight this because of a new play called Cross Flood. Both the TE and the closest WR are on crossers which is really nice for attacking the middle of the field. Can put one on a slant for a nice high low in the middle of the field.
Overall thoughts: A really nice addition to new playbooks, this feels just like how the Falcons would run things in real life. The pistols are fun. I really do like this bunch. Worth a look if you can deal with blocking
Grade: B+ (mainly for ingenuity and variation)
