Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Wing PA Cross is a play-action pass out of Pistol Full House Base with 21 personnel that sells the run fake before attacking the middle and outside of the field. Off the play-action mesh, one outside receiver runs a deep crosser from the left side all the way across the field while the backside receiver takes the top off the defense on a deep vertical route, and the inline TE/wing runs an opposite deep route to the far side, stretching the defense both horizontally and vertically. The remaining back releases on a shallow drag underneath as a checkdown, giving this play a layered progression against both man and zone coverage. This is a man beater at its core, using the deep crosser to create natural separation against man defenders trailing across the field, but the vertical stems on both outside routes also stress zone defenders who have to respect the deep thirds.
Defensive Reads
Presnap, check safety depth and leverage since a single high safety opens up the crosser working underneath, while two deep safeties force you to hold the ball and climb the pocket for the vertical shot. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they bite hard on the run fake it opens up easy throwing lanes for the crosser and the shallow drag underneath. Man coverage shells with press corners get exposed by the deep crosser's natural rub against traffic, so look for man indicators like tight alignment on receivers presnap. Zone coverage, especially Cover 3, can be beaten by the vertical routes stretching the deep thirds, forcing a defender to choose between the crosser and the deep route. Watch for user-controlled defenders sitting in the middle of the field or lurking near the crosser's path, since a heads-up user linebacker or safety can jump the route and turn it into a turnover.
Usage Tips
Sell the play-action fake by holding the ball on the run fake as long as possible to freeze linebackers and draw safeties out of their deep zone drops.
Use this on early downs like first or second and short-to-medium yardage where defenses are more likely to bite on the run action out of 21 personnel.
Read the deep crosser first against man coverage since the natural pick and traffic near the line will create separation as it works across the field.
If you see two deep safeties presnap, work the vertical route on the backside since the crosser will have to fight through a deeper zone drop.
Pair this play with Wing Power O and Wing HB Dive in the same set to keep defenses honest on early downs, then hit them with PA Cross once they start crashing down on run fits.
