Playbooks

X Close PA Slants

Shotgun·Y Off Trips·11
Play ActionPass PlaySlant
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Play diagram for X Close PA Slants from Shotgun Y Off Trips in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

Shotgun Mix

Breakdown

X Close PA Slants runs off a play action fake out of Shotgun Y Off Trips with 11 personnel, drawing linebackers up before releasing three receivers on staggered slants. The trips side shows the outside receiver on a deep slant crossing the field, the middle receiver on a slant that stops short and settles as an underneath option, and the inside slot running a slant to the opposite flat. The lone receiver away from the fake works a shallow crosser underneath. This is a man beater built to exploit picks and natural leverage created by the bunched stagger, with the primary read starting at the deepest slant working across the field and progressing down to the underneath crosser if the initial window closes.

Defensive Reads

Watch for a single high safety pre-snap, which signals man coverage underneath and makes the trips stagger nearly unstoppable if defenders do not fight through the natural pick Key on linebacker depth at the snap, if they bite hard on the play action fake the middle slant and shallow crosser will have wide open throwing lanes Identify Cover 3 or Cover 4 zone shells by watching cornerback depth, since zone defenders sitting on the slant angles can jump the route if they read quarterback eyes early Look for a user controlled defender lurking in the shallow crosser's lane, as that is the most common spot for defenders to sit and bait a turnover Recognize blitz packages that send extra rushers off the edge, since the play action fake can slow down the quarterback's ability to get the ball out against pressure

Usage Tips

Use this on early downs when the defense shows run support looks like 8 in the box, since the PA fake will hold linebackers and open passing lanes underneath

Check pre-snap for man coverage indicators like press corners or a single high safety, since the natural rub created by the trips stagger is very difficult for man defenders to fight through

Hot route the shallow crosser into a deeper drag if you see aggressive underneath zone defenders sitting on short routes

Pair this with Bounce Y Stick or Stick from the same set to keep defenders guessing between quick game and the PA slant shot, forcing linebackers to respect both the run fake and quick underneath throws

On third and short, prioritize the middle slant that settles short as your first read since it creates immediate separation against zone drops

Other Plays in Y Off Trips