Playbooks

PA Cross

Shotgun·Spread Y-Flex Wk·11

Play Action Pass Play Crosser

Play diagram for PA Cross from Shotgun Spread Y-Flex Wk in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetSpread Y-Flex Wk

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 13 playbooks

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Breakdown

PA Cross is a play-action pass out of Shotgun Spread Y-Flex Wk that shows a deep vertical shot paired with a long developing crosser underneath. Off the play-action fake, the backside receiver runs a deep vertical seam up the numbers while the far outside receiver works a deep crossing route that travels the width of the field, breaking away from the fake to hit soft spots between the hashes. The middle receiver runs a short flat/out route and the flexed TE releases into a corner-breaking route after selling run action, giving the quarterback a layered progression from the deep cross to the corner breaking route with the flat route as the checkdown. Primary read starts with the deep crosser working across the field, then works down to the corner route breaking outside, and finally to the flat as the outlet.

Defensive Reads

Identify single high versus two high safety alignment before the snap since this determines whether the deep cross or the corner route is the better answer. Watch linebacker depth at the snap. If linebackers sink into shallow zone drops instead of biting on the run fake, the crosser will be capped and you should progress quickly to the corner or flat. Key the flow of the middle linebacker or user defender chasing across the field. If he stays home and does not bite on run action, the deep cross has no window and you need to reset to the flat checkdown. Beware Cover 3 with a hard flowing strong safety, since a good user can sit in the passing lane and jump the crossing route for a big hit or turnover. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is where this concept shines, since the deep cross creates natural separation against man defenders trailing across the field.

Usage Tips

Use this play on early downs (1st and 10 or 2nd and short) when you have already established the run game, since the play action fake needs defenders biting on run keys to open up the crosser.

Check the middle of the field pre snap. Against single high safety looks the deep cross has room to work across the field before the safety can rotate over, so trust that route on an anticipation throw.

Against two high shells, prioritize the corner route from the flexed TE since the deep cross will run into help from the backside safety.

Pair this play with Inside Zone or HB Mid Draw earlier in a series to sell the run fake harder, then dial up PA Cross once linebackers start stepping up aggressively on run reads.

Hot route the flat receiver into a quick out or spot route if you are facing a known blitz team, giving yourself a faster underneath answer if the deep routes take too long to develop.

In the red zone, this concept loses value since the deep cross needs the width of the field, so save it for plays that start outside the 20.