Playbooks

X Follow

Singleback·Ace·12

Pass Play Play Action Go Out Seam Flat Deep Cross Flood Man Beater Cover 3 Beater

Play diagram for X Follow from Singleback Ace in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationSingleback

SetAce

Personnel

121 RB · 2 TE · 2 WR

In 5 playbooks

Balanced Run OffenseOffense Elites OffenseOffense Sim Explosivestress Ba OffenseOffense Sim Explosivestress Ph OffenseOffense Sim Explosivestress Rn OffenseOffense

Breakdown

X Follow out of Singleback Ace 12 personnel is a play action deep cross concept designed to flood the field and stress zone defenders with a man beater built in. Play action holds the linebackers, then the X receiver runs a deep out from the backside while the Y (in-line TE) breaks off a seam and the second TE releases on a deep cross that continues all the way across the field. A third receiver on the flank runs a corner route to occupy the boundary, and a shallow route underneath drags across the formation to give the quarterback a check down against a hard blitz. The primary read progression starts with the deep cross working man to zone, then the seam, then the X out route, and finally the flat/drag as the outlet.

Defensive Reads

Identify two high safeties pre-snap, since this play is designed to exploit the seam and deep cross window in Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells. Watch linebacker depth at the snap: if they bite hard on the run fake, the deep cross and seam will have wide open throwing lanes. Beware of Cover 1 or Cover 0 man looks with a deep third safety, since a disciplined user defender can rob the deep cross route. Key on the flat defender: if he sinks with the shallow drag, the flood concept to the boundary corner route becomes the leverage throw. Look for a blitz off the edge, since the play action fake can be exposed against an aggressive nano blitz if the offensive line does not account for the extra rusher.

Usage Tips

Use this play on early downs or second and medium when you want to sell the run fake and attack downfield off play action.

Check the safety alignment pre-snap: if you see two high safeties, this is a strong Cover 3 or Cover 4 beater because the deep cross will find the seam between zones.

If the corner is playing tight man on the X, hot route the X out route into a fade or speed out to win one on one on the boundary.

Pair this call with HB Dive or Inside Zone earlier in the drive so the run fake actually holds linebackers when you come back to X Follow.

Watch for a user spy or lurking linebacker sitting in the middle of the field, since the deep cross is the primary read and a good user defender can jump that route.

Combine this with PA Post Cross Shot or PA Post Dig in the same series to keep the defense guessing between crossing routes and vertical shots off the same play action look.