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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Vertical TE Cross out of Pistol Doubles Flex Hip lines up in 11 personnel with two receivers to the boundary side and the TE and slot working the field side. The TE runs a deep vertical seam that clears out the middle while the outside receiver on that side crosses underneath him on a shallow drag heading all the way across the field, creating a natural high low crossing combo against man coverage. On the field side, the slot receiver runs a deep in breaking dig that settles as an intermediate zone beater while the outside receiver on that side takes the top off with a straight vertical. The primary read starts with the TE vertical seam clearing the middle linebacker, then works to the shallow crosser underneath if the seam is capped, with the deep dig as the zone beater outlet against soft coverage shells.
Defensive Reads
Pre snap, identify single high safety alignment, since that tells you the TE seam has one on one leverage down the middle against man coverage. Watch the flow of the middle linebacker at the snap, if he sinks with the TE vertical instead of widening to the crosser, that is your cue to hit the shallow drag for a big gain. Post snap, look for user controlled defenders sitting in the shallow crossing lane, that is the biggest threat to this concept since a jumped crosser can be picked and returned the other way. Against cover 2 or cover 4 shells, key the safety depth on the deep dig route, if the safety stays shallow to help on the vertical, the dig has room to sit in the intermediate window. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge or through the A gap can beat this play if the protection cannot hold up long enough for the deep routes to develop, so check blitz exposure before snapping.
Usage Tips
Check the middle of the field pre-snap for a single high safety, since the TE vertical seam is designed to split the numbers in one high shells like MOFC man or cover 3.
If the defense shows two high safeties, prioritize the shallow crosser and the deep dig, since those routes settle into soft spots against cover 2 and cover 4 zone drops.
Use motion or a hot route on the underneath crosser to adjust his depth if a linebacker is sitting directly in his path, since spy or blitz looks will collision that route at the line.
Pair this play with Curls or Slants from the same set to keep the defense guessing between quick game and vertical shots, then call Vertical TE Cross once you see linebackers creeping up expecting short throws.
Best called on 2nd and medium or 1st down when you want an explosive play, since the deep dig and TE seam both threaten 15 plus yards if the defense bites on the crosser.
