Playbooks

U Cross

Shotgun·Empty Ace·12

Crosser Pass Play

Play diagram for U Cross from Shotgun Empty Ace in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetEmpty Ace

Personnel

121 RB · 2 TE · 2 WR

In 9 playbooks

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Breakdown

U Cross is a five man route concept out of Shotgun Empty Ace with 12 personnel that stresses the middle of the field with a deep crossing route. The two receivers to the left run a mesh style combo with an out breaking route and a corner route stacked on top, the inside receiver next to the formation runs a deep dig into the crosser, the running back released to the flat runs a shallow drag to the boundary, and the backside X receiver runs a vertical seam up the sideline. This is a man beater built to pick with traffic underneath while the crosser and vertical seam attack zone drops behind, with the primary read starting on the crosser working across the field and progressing to the flat drag and vertical seam if the middle is clogged.

Defensive Reads

Watch for a single high safety pre-snap since this indicates man coverage underneath, which is exactly what the crosser and dig combo are designed to exploit with natural picks. If both safeties are deep at the snap in a two high shell, expect zone coverage and look to see if the crosser can settle into a soft spot between the underneath and deep zones for an easy completion. Key the middle linebacker depth at the snap, a shallow drop means he is sitting on the crosser and you should progress to the flat drag or vertical seam instead of forcing the ball inside. Man coverage with no help over the top is where this play is most dangerous, so if the defense shows Cover 0 or Cover 1 without a deep half safety rotating over, expect the crosser or seam to break wide open. Cover 3 with a hard flying corner on the seam and a robber sitting in the middle can shut this concept down, so recognize that shell pre-snap and be ready to check down to the running back's drag route.

Usage Tips

Use this play on second and long or third and medium when you need a chunk gain over the middle since the crosser has room to sit down in soft zones or separate versus man coverage.

Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing a single high safety or two high shell, since the crosser and dig combo work best against single high man coverage where linebackers have to carry across the field.

If you see Cover 2 or Cover 4 with underneath zone defenders sitting in the throwing lanes, hot route the flat drag into a quicker option or check down to the running back to avoid a tipped pass.

Pair this play with Curl Flats or Stick in your play calling sequence to condition the defense to sit on shorter routes, then hit them with the crosser for explosive plays once they bite.

Against user controlled linebackers who like to spy or lurk in the middle, use pump fakes or manipulate your eyes to the vertical seam before coming back to the crosser to bait the user out of position.