Playbooks

Inside Cross

Shotgun·Bunch TE·11

Crosser Pass Play

Play diagram for Inside Cross from Shotgun Bunch TE in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetBunch TE

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

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Breakdown

Inside Cross is run out of the Bunch TE set in Shotgun with 11 personnel, using a tight bunch alignment on one side and an isolated X receiver on the backside. From the bunch, one receiver runs a deep vertical seam, another works a deep in-cut across the field, and the tight end releases on a shallow drag underneath. The backside X runs a shallow crosser across the field that stretches horizontally underneath the linebackers, and the running back stays in as a check release or flat option. This is a man beater concept built on natural rub picks from the bunch alignment, with the primary read starting on the shallow crosser working across the field before climbing to the deep in-cut route if the crosser is taken away.

Defensive Reads

Watch the linebacker depth at the snap, since shallow zone drops from the middle linebacker or Mike can jump the tight end drag and the backside crosser if they sit too aggressively. Man coverage with press corners on the bunch receivers is the ideal shell to attack because the natural rub from the bunch alignment creates immediate separation on the shallow crosser. Cover 3 with a deep middle safety can be a problem for the deep in-cut route since that defender has help sinking into the throwing window. Look for user controlled defenders lurking in the shallow crossing lanes, since a smart user can sit on the crosser route and jump the throw if the quarterback stares it down too long. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge opposite the bunch can pressure the quarterback before the deep in-cut route has time to develop, so check protection or plan for a quick checkdown to the running back.

Usage Tips

Look at the safety alignment pre-snap to identify if you are facing a two-high shell, since the deep in-cut route from the bunch has room to sit down in the void against two-high zone coverage.

Use the shallow crosser as your first read against man coverage because the bunch traffic creates natural rubs that spring the receiver open early in the route.

If the defense shows man coverage with no safety help over the bunch, consider hot routing the vertical seam route to a deep post to attack any leverage mismatch created by the rub.

This play works well on second and medium to second and long since it takes a beat to develop the crosser and in-cut routes.

Pair this play with Mesh or Mtn Mesh in your call sheet since both concepts attack similar shallow crossing patterns, forcing the defense to declare man or zone before the snap and keeping linebackers guessing on drop depth.