Playbooks

X Under Seams

Shotgun·Doubles·11

Seam Pass Play

Play diagram for X Under Seams from Shotgun Doubles in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetDoubles

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 1 playbook

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Breakdown

X Under Seams is a Shotgun Doubles four man route concept built to attack the middle of the field with vertical stretches. Both outside receivers run seam routes straight upfield to occupy the safeties and stress the deep middle, while the X receiver runs a shallow crossing drag underneath and the slot receiver on the strong side runs a quick out to the flat. This is primarily a zone beater, using the two seams to hold linebackers and safeties in place while the underneath drag sits in the void behind them, though it can also work against man coverage if the drag can create separation off the break. The primary read progression starts with the seams to see if a safety bites or vacates the middle, then works down to the underneath drag against zone, with the flat route as a checkdown outlet.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing two high safeties or a single high shell, since two high alignments tell you the seams may draw extra attention and open the drag. Post-snap, watch for a user controlled safety flying down to jump the drag route, which is the biggest threat to this concept, if you see that happen early, reset your eyes to the seam on the opposite side. Cover 3 zone with a deep middle safety can be vulnerable if the flat defender widens too fast, leaving a throwing lane for the drag route to sit in the intermediate middle. Man coverage with underneath linebacker help can wall off the drag route, so if you see man alignment with a linebacker sitting in the throwing lane, go directly to the seam route matchup instead. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they drop deep to take away the seams, the drag route behind them becomes an easy completion for positive yardage.

Usage Tips

Check the safety alignment pre-snap, if you see two high safeties sitting deep, the seams are designed to occupy them and open the drag underneath.

Use the drag route as your primary hot read versus zone coverage since it settles into the soft spot vacated by linebackers dropping into their zones.

Against man coverage, key the seam routes since a corner or linebacker in trail technique can be beaten vertically if the safety help rotates away.

Pair this play with 45 Quick Base or Curl Flats earlier in a series to condition the defense to expect shorter routes, then hit the seams for an explosive gain when safeties creep up.

This play works best on second and medium or third and short to medium since the drag and flat give you easy access throws while the seams provide big play upside against busted coverage.