Playbooks

Empty Post Cross Wheel

Shotgun·Y Trips Wk·11

Post Wheel Pass Play Crosser

Likely unavailable in the playbook builder

This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Play diagram for Empty Post Cross Wheel from Shotgun Y Trips Wk in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetY Trips Wk

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

Breakdown

Empty Post Cross Wheel is a five-man route empty concept out of the Shotgun Y Trips Wk formation. To the trips side, the outside receiver runs a deep post while the middle receiver breaks off a crossing route underneath, and the inside slot releases on a wheel route up the sideline off the crossing traffic. The backside single receiver runs a deep post as well while the tight end (or nearest inside receiver) checks down on a shallow drag across the field. This is an empty backfield man beater with no run support, designed to isolate linebackers on the wheel route and stress safeties with dual post routes, so the primary read progression is backside post first for a big play window, then working to the crosser and wheel combo to attack man coverage leverage or a blown assignment underneath.

Defensive Reads

Identify single high versus two high safety shells before the snap, single high leaves the backside post one on one which is the biggest weakness of this play against man coverage. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they sink into zone drops the crossing route and wheel combo becomes tougher to complete on time. User a lurking safety or linebacker in the middle of the field to jump the shallow crosser, this is the route offenses lean on when the deep posts are covered. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender can undercut the wheel route early, so sit in the throwing lane if you see trips motion or alignment tip the wheel concept. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the biggest bust for the defense, since both post routes and the wheel route can all hit for explosive gains simultaneously.

Usage Tips

Use this play on second or third and long when you need to stretch the field vertically and can afford time in the pocket since it takes a few seconds to develop.

Check pre-snap for single high safety looks, if the safety cheats to the trips side post, immediately look backside to the post on the opposite side for a one on one shot.

The wheel route is the key man beater against linebackers in man coverage, if you see a linebacker trying to run with the slot receiver vertically that is your money throw.

Hot route the shallow drag into a deeper option like a curl if you are getting zone drops underneath, since the drag can get clogged against zone shells.

Pair this with Empty Post Dagger or Four Verticals from the same set to keep defenses guessing between deep shots and intermediate crossers, forcing them to declare coverage rotation before the snap.