Playbooks

SFT Diamond X-Cross Trail

Shotgun·Bunch Str Offset·11

Motion Crosser Trail Pass Play

Play diagram for SFT Diamond X-Cross Trail from Shotgun Bunch Str Offset in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetBunch Str Offset

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 3 playbooks

Redskins OffenseOffense Shotgun Classic OffenseOffense NFL Live Redskins OffenseOffense

Breakdown

SFT Diamond X-Cross Trail lines up out of the Bunch Str Offset look in Shotgun with a motion tag that resets the bunch alignment before the snap. Off the snap the outside receiver runs a deep dig that cuts hard across the field, the middle bunch receiver pushes vertically up the seam, and the trailing receiver runs the trail concept underneath the crosser to create a natural rub and pick against man coverage. The backside blue route works a shallow drag/flat crossing the field underneath everything, giving the quarterback a built-in check down against blitz. This is a man beater first, using the bunch traffic and trail action to spring the crosser, with the primary read progressing from the deep dig to the trailing crosser and finally to the underneath drag/flat if the safety helps deep or the pocket collapses.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify press man on the bunch receivers, if a defender is lined up tight over the trail receiver expect a natural pick and either blitz through the rub or bail into a deep zone to erase the trail window. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, a linebacker sitting shallow in the crosser's lane is the biggest threat to this concept and can jump the trail route for a pick six if the quarterback locks on too early. User the deep safety on the dig route side, if that safety breaks late this play gets a big chunk gain, so disciplined eyes on the dig from the snap is essential to shut it down. Bring pressure off the edge before the trail route develops, since the concept takes time to clear traffic, a quick interior blitz or edge rush can force the throw before the crosser is open. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender takes away the underneath drag/flat outlet, forcing the quarterback to hold the ball longer and giving the pass rush time to disrupt the timing of the dig and trail combo.

Usage Tips

Use the pre-snap motion to confirm man versus zone before the snap, if the defender follows the motion man across the formation you have a green light for the trail concept.

Against man coverage, key the natural rub created by the bunch alignment and throw the trailing crosser as soon as it clears the traffic, it will be open in stride most of the time.

Against zone shells, work the deep dig into the void behind the underneath zone drops and use the drag/flat as your zone beater outlet if the dig is capped.

This play shines on second and medium to second and long where the deep dig has room to sit down before the sticks, avoid calling it on short third downs since the dig needs time to develop.

Pair this with SFT Diamond Mesh or SFT Diamond Fake Mesh Rail in the same set, both plays use similar bunch traffic so defenses cannot key on the trail action alone once they have seen the mesh look.