Playbooks

Double Cross

Shotgun·Wing Slot Offset·12

Crosser Pass Play

Play diagram for Double Cross from Shotgun Wing Slot Offset in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetWing Slot Offset

Personnel

121 RB · 2 TE · 2 WR

In 3 playbooks

Balanced Pass OffenseOffense Texans OffenseOffense NFL Live Texans OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Double Cross is a classic crossing route concept out of Shotgun Wing Slot Offset with 12 personnel. Off the snap, the two inside receivers run dual crossers at different depths (a shallow drag and a deeper crosser) while the outside receiver runs a deep vertical to stretch the field and hold the safety, and the backside receiver breaks outside on a corner route toward the sideline. This is a man beater designed to create natural rub traffic and pick issues for man defenders, with the primary read progression starting on the shallow crosser underneath, working up to the deeper cross, and going to the vertical or corner route if the middle of the field is clogged.

Defensive Reads

Watch for user controlled linebackers sitting in the middle of the field, since they can jump the shallow crosser and undercut the primary read. Cover 3 with a hard sitting middle linebacker can shut down the shallow drag, so be ready to progress quickly to the deeper crosser or the corner route. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the ideal shell for this concept, since the natural rub from the crossers forces defenders to fight through traffic. Identify blitz packages pre-snap by checking linebacker depth, if they are crashing downhill the shallow crosser becomes a quick answer against pressure. Cover 2 shells with safeties rotating late can bracket the deep crosser, so key the corner route on the backside as a late-window answer if the top of the defense is occupied.

Usage Tips

Attack man coverage first since the crossing routes create natural picks that spring receivers open against man defenders trailing across the field.

Check the safety alignment pre-snap, if you see two high safeties the crossers will have room to work underneath, if it is single high be ready to hit the shallow drag quickly before the robber defender can close.

Hot route the vertical outside receiver into a comeback or hitch against soft zone coverage if the corner is sitting deep and taking away the shot play.

Use this on second and medium to second and long when defenses expect a standard dropback, since the dual crossers punish both man and zone drops with natural spacing.

Pair this with PA Dig or PA Double Post from the same set to keep defenses guessing between the crossing action and shots off play action, since both share similar initial receiver movement.