Playbooks

HB Pass

I Form·Pro·21
Trick PlayDeep CrossCrosserStreakPass Play
Play diagram for HB Pass from I Form Pro in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationI Form
SetPro

In 3 playbooks

Franchise College Pro OffenseOffenseFranchise Offense OptionOffenseMadden OffenseOffense

Breakdown

HB Pass is a trick play out of the I Form Pro 21 personnel that starts with a run fake before the HB pulls up to throw. The FB or X receiver on the left runs a shallow drag that breaks upfield into a deep out toward the sideline, giving the HB a clear vertical stem to read on the throw. On the right side, the X receiver runs a straight vertical seam up the sideline as a second option, stretching the defense deep while the underneath route occupies shallow zone defenders or a man defender in coverage. The primary read progression starts with the underneath breaking route as the first option since it comes open quickest off the play fake, then works to the deep vertical route if the defense bites hard on the run action and vacates the deep half.

Defensive Reads

Man coverage with linebackers manned up on the HB is the biggest giveaway since the play fake does nothing to hold a defender locked onto the backfield. Watch for safeties crashing down on run action pre-snap, if both safeties bite on the play fake the deep vertical route on the right will be wide open behind them. Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells with soft zone drops from linebackers tend to give up the underneath breaking route since zone defenders sink into throwing lanes rather than sprinting to close space. User-controlled defenders spying the HB or blitzing off the edge can blow this play up immediately since the passer is the HB and has limited athleticism and arm strength compared to a true quarterback. Disguised blitzes that bring extra defenders through the box will collapse the pocket fast, so if you see run blitz pre-snap indicators followed by an all-out rush post-snap, expect this throw to be forced or batted down.

Usage Tips

Call this on early downs when the defense has shown heavy run blitz tendencies out of I Form looks so the play fake actually holds linebackers and safeties.

Check the defensive alignment pre-snap for a single deep safety or stacked box, both indicate the defense is selling out to stop the HB run game and creates the window this trick play needs.

Use the right analog stick to look off the deep vertical route on the right before coming back to the underneath breaking route, this manipulates user safeties who bite on eye discipline.

Pair this with HB Toss, HB Blast, and HB Iso earlier in a drive so the defense keys run action off the I Form HB run tags, then dial up HB Pass to cash in on aggressive linebacker and safety flow.

Avoid calling this on third and long or in obvious pass situations since the play design depends on the illusion of a run play to freeze defenders.

Other Plays in Pro