Playbooks

PA Crossers

Shotgun·Trips TE Flex·11

Play Action Crosser Pass Play

Play diagram for PA Crossers from Shotgun Trips TE Flex in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetTrips TE Flex

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 19 playbooks

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Breakdown

PA Crossers out of Shotgun Trips TE Flex is a play-action passing concept built around two crossing routes from the trips side that stretch the field horizontally at different depths, paired with a deep vertical from the flexed TE and a shallow out route from the isolated backside receiver. The play-action fake sells the run threat before the QB works the crossers, making it an effective man beater since the crossing routes create natural rub traffic and separation against man defenders, while also giving zone defenders conflicting horizontal stress at two levels. The primary read progression starts with the deep crosser coming from the backside TE, works down to the underneath crosser breaking from the trips bunch, and checks down to the flat route on the backside if both are covered.

Defensive Reads

Key the middle linebacker and weak side linebacker at the snap, since if they step up hard on the play-action fake the crossing lanes open immediately underneath them. Watch for a single high safety pre-snap, because Cover 1 and Cover 3 shells are vulnerable to the deep crosser splitting the intermediate zone once the safety commits to run support. Beware disguised Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with two deep safeties staying home, since those coverages allow underneath defenders to sit on the crossers and jump the throwing lanes. Look for a user linebacker spying or lurking in the shallow crossing zone, as a smart defender sitting in the middle of the field can undercut both crossers if the QB does not manipulate him with eyes or pump fakes. Recognize five or six man pressure packages with a blitzer crashing off the edge, since the play-action fake slows the QB's setup and makes hot route protection or a quick checkdown to the flat route essential against a fast blitz.

Usage Tips

Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to bait linebackers into showing blitz before the play-action fake sells, since a paused or slow-triggering defense gets gashed by the crossers underneath.

Identify single-high shells before the snap because the deep crosser has a clean lane to work across the field against Cover 3 or Cover 1 when the safety bites on the run fake.

Hot route the backside flat route into a quick out or drag if you diagnose Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells, since those shells sit soft on crossers and the flat becomes the quicker throw.

Pair this play with HB Draw or Inside Zone earlier in a drive to condition linebackers to bite on run action, then punish that tendency with PA Crossers on similar down and distance.

Best called on early downs or second and medium when defenses are more willing to respect the run fake, since third and long defenders sit back and squeeze the crossing lanes.