Playbooks

X Follow

Shotgun·Spread Y-Flex·11

Pass Play Mesh Go Drag Shallow Cross Man Beater Post Crosser Flat In Streak

Play diagram for X Follow from Shotgun Spread Y-Flex in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetSpread Y-Flex

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 2 playbooks

Bengals OffenseOffense NFL Live Bengals OffenseOffense

Breakdown

X Follow is a man beater out of Shotgun Spread Y-Flex that stacks a mesh concept underneath a vertical shot up top. The outside receiver to the closed side runs a deep Go route to stretch the defense vertically while the tight end and inside slot cross underneath on a shallow drag and comeback, creating natural rub traffic for anyone in man coverage. The backside X receiver runs a deep comeback that mirrors the mesh action, giving the quarterback a layered progression from the shallow drag first, up to the comeback breaking back to the sideline, and finally the deep Go if a defender bites on the underneath routes. There is no run action or screen element shown here, this is a straight dropback man beater built around natural picks.

Defensive Reads

Check the cornerback depth pre-snap, if both corners are pressed at the line expect man coverage and prioritize the mesh rub routes underneath. Watch the single high safety, if he stays deep in the middle of the field it signals man coverage or Cover 3, both of which the shallow drag and comeback can exploit before help arrives. Post-snap, key any user-controlled defender flowing toward the mesh point, since that lurk threat can jump the drag or comeback if the quarterback holds the ball too long. Against zone shells like Cover 2 or Cover 4, this play loses some effectiveness since the comeback route sits in a defender's zone instead of finding grass, so be ready to check down to the shallow drag. Identify linebacker depth at the snap, shallow linebackers who crash downhill on run fakes will vacate the drag lane and open an easy completion for the first read.

Usage Tips

Pre-snap, look for man coverage indicators like corners lined up tight on the receivers and a single high safety, since the mesh traffic underneath is designed to rub off defensive backs in man.

Hot route the backside comeback into a hitch or slant if you see a hard corner blitz coming from that side, since the comeback needs time to develop and a blitz will collapse the pocket before it breaks.

Use this play on second and medium to third and medium situations where the shallow drag and comeback both offer safe completion windows underneath the sticks.

Pair X Follow with Y Stick or Double Slants earlier in a series so defenders start jumping the quick game, then hit the deep Go route once corners start sitting on short routes.

If the user rushes a linebacker through the mesh point, throw the shallow drag immediately before the mesh traffic gets disrupted, since that route is the first read and often wide open against man.