Playbooks

Cross Wheels

Shotgun·Tight Doubles·11
WheelCrosserPass PlayDeep CrossDrag
Play diagram for Cross Wheels from Shotgun Tight Doubles in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

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Breakdown

Cross Wheels lines up out of Shotgun Tight Doubles with 11 personnel and shows a five man route concept built around one deep crosser and two wheel routes stacked outside. Both outside receivers push vertical up the sideline on wheel routes while the tight end runs a deep dig style crosser from the opposite side of the formation across the middle of the field, and the inside slot receiver runs a shallow drag underneath heading away from the crosser. The backfield stays in to protect, and the primary read starts with the crosser working across the field before working outside to the wheel routes if the middle is taken away, making this a strong man beater against man coverage rotations and a solid answer against zone defenses that vacate the flats.

Defensive Reads

Watch the flat defenders and outside corners pre-snap since aggressive flat drops or press man alignment signal vulnerability to the wheel routes. Key the middle linebacker or safety responsible for the deep middle since a slow reaction to the crosser opens up an easy explosive gain over the middle. Man coverage with no help over the top gets exposed by the wheel routes turning upfield, so look for man alignment on the outside receivers as a green light. Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with disciplined deep half safeties can take away both wheel routes, forcing the quarterback to live and die with the crosser. Watch for a delayed blitz or lurking linebacker sitting in the crosser's throwing lane, since this play holds the ball long enough for a well timed blitz to get home.

Usage Tips

Use pre-snap motion or a quick peek at the safety alignment to confirm if you are getting a two high shell before committing to the crosser read.

Attack man coverage by throwing the crosser in stride since the route is designed to create natural rub leverage against man defenders trailing across the formation.

If the defense shows Cover 3 or Cover 4 with deep zone drops, look immediately to the wheel routes since corners biting on the flat or curl zones leave the sideline exposed.

Hot route the shallow drag into a spot or option route against teams that sit in underneath zone to give yourself an easy checkdown when the deep routes are covered.

Pair this play with HB Angle or HB Slip Screen from the same set to punish defenses that start selling out on the crosser and wheel combo after seeing it once.

Other Plays in Tight Doubles