Playbooks

Z Cross

Shotgun·Trips TE·11
CrosserPass Play
Play diagram for Z Cross from Shotgun Trips TE in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 2 playbooks

Seahawks OffenseOffenseNFL Live Seahawks OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Z Cross out of Shotgun Trips TE (11 personnel) sends the backside X on a corner route to clear out the boundary while the two trips receivers work an over/cross combo, with the inside slot running a deep crosser all the way across the field underneath the outside trips WR's corner route up top. The HB releases on a swing/flat route to the play side, giving the QB a built-in checkdown against blitz pressure. This is a man beater at its core, the deep crosser stresses man defenders working through traffic and picks created by the trips bunch, with the corner routes on both sides serving to hold safeties and open up the crosser. Primary read progression starts with the deep crosser working left to right, then works to the corner route breaking to the sideline, and finally checks down to the HB out of the backfield.

Defensive Reads

Watch for user controlled defenders sitting in the shallow crosser lane, a lurking linebacker or safety can jump the route if the QB stares it down too long. Check corner alignment on the trips side, if they are playing outside leverage expecting the corner route, the crosser behind them will be wide open. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is where this play wins big, the crosser will pull away from any linebacker or nickel defender in trail technique. Zone coverage with a hard buzz linebacker sinking underneath can undercut the crosser, so be ready to reset to the HB flat route or the far corner route instead. Cover 3 with a fast flowing curl to flat defender can close the throwing window quickly, so timing the throw before the crosser reaches the middle of the field is critical.

Usage Tips

Look for man coverage indicators pre-snap such as corners lined up tight on the trips WRs with no visible flat defender, that is when the crosser will have the most separation.

Use motion or a hard count to bait linebackers into showing blitz before the snap so you know if the HB flat route will be needed as a hot read.

If you see two high safeties sitting deep, target the crosser quickly before the backside safety can rotate down and undercut the throwing lane.

Pair this play with Slants or Curl Flat earlier in a series so defenders start jumping short routes, then hit Z Cross to attack the same look with the deep crosser for a big gain.

Best called on 2nd or 3rd and medium when you need a chain mover, the crosser's depth and the corner routes give you multiple layers to work through against both man and zone drops.

Other Plays in Trips TE