Playbooks

Mtn PA Crossers

Shotgun·Bunch Wide·11

Play Action Crosser Motion Pass Play

Play diagram for Mtn PA Crossers from Shotgun Bunch Wide in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetBunch Wide

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 2 playbooks

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Breakdown

Mtn PA Crossers is a play-action pass out of Shotgun Bunch Wide that disguises the run game before flooding the field with two deep crossers and an underneath drive route. Off the play fake, the two outside receivers from the bunch cross the field at depth (one breaking left, one breaking right off a vertical stem), while the third bunch receiver runs a shallow drive route underneath, and the backside receiver runs a quick out to hold the flat defender. This is a man beater at its core, using the crossing action to create natural rub separation, but it also stresses zone defenders who have to sink and wall off two levels at once. The primary read progression starts with the deep crossers working opposite hash marks, then works down to the underneath drive route if the safeties squeeze the top of the route combo.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, check safety depth and alignment over the bunch since a single high safety signals man or Cover 3 and both crossers will have room to work, while two deep safeties suggest Cover 4 or Cover 2 that can rob the deeper crossing route. Watch for a linebacker or slot corner shadowing the bunch receivers through their release, which confirms man coverage and means the crossing routes will create natural traffic and separation. Post-snap, key the middle linebacker's drop, since a fast sink into the crossers' lane signals zone coverage and you should look to the underneath drive route instead. This play struggles against disciplined Cover 3 sink and Tampa 2 shells where the deep middle defender can rob the crosser, and it is vulnerable to blitzes that beat the play-action fake before the crossers develop. Look for user-controlled defenders sitting in the passing lanes between the numbers and the hash, since a lurking defender there is baiting the crossing route throw and can jump the window for a pick six.

Usage Tips

Use pre-snap motion out of the bunch to identify man versus zone before the snap, since a defender following the motion man across confirms man coverage and tells you the crossers will win versus grass. Against zone shells, hold the ball an extra beat and let the crossers clear the linebackers' zone drops before hitting them in the open windows between levels. This play works best on second and medium to long third down since the deep crossers need time to develop off the play-action fake, so avoid calling it on obvious run downs where the fake loses its threat. Pair this with Inside Zone or QB Blast from the same set earlier in a series to sell the run fake and get linebackers biting downhill before you dial up Mtn PA Crossers. If the underneath drive route gets jumped by an aggressive linebacker, hot route it into a quick option or check it down immediately since the crossers need time and a free rusher can blow up the play.