Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Orbit PA Cross runs from Pistol U Off Trips with 12 personnel and uses orbit motion into a play-action fake to sell run action before the quarterback works the pass concept. Off the fake, the yellow route pushes vertically upfield and breaks outside on a deep comeback or corner-ish path, the red route runs a deep dig that sits down after crossing the formation, and the blue route works a shallow drag underneath the dig while the checkdown swings out into the flat with the aid of a chip block up front. This is a play-action crosser concept built to attack man coverage with natural picks and rubs across the formation, with the primary read starting on the red dig working from outside in through the blue shallow cross before checking down to the flat route.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flow of the linebackers after the snap, if they crash hard on the play-action fake it confirms they are vulnerable to the crossers sitting down behind them in the intermediate zones. Key the defender assigned to the orbit motion man presnap, if he travels across the formation with the motion it is almost certainly man coverage and the dig and drag combo will have natural separation from the rub action. Identify single high versus two high safety shells before the snap, against single high the deep dig from red has a bigger throwing window since there is less help over the top, while two high shells force you to rely more on the shallow crosser and flat route. Look for a user lurk defender sitting in the middle of the field reading the quarterback eyes, this is the biggest threat to the dig route, so be ready to move through the progression quickly to the shallow blue crosser or flat route if you see a defender hovering underneath. Recognize overload blitz looks presnap since the play-action fake can be exploited by a fast blitz off the edge, if you see extra rushers showing prior to snap get rid of the ball quickly to the shallow cross or flat as a hot alternative.
Usage Tips
Use the orbit motion pre-snap to identify man versus zone, if the defender follows the motion man across the formation you know you are getting man coverage and the crossers will have natural rub potential.
Take the play-action fake all the way to sell the run threat, this freezes linebackers and opens up the shallow drag and dig behind them, especially effective on early downs like first or second and medium.
Progression should start with the deep dig from red since it sits down in soft spots against zone or separates late against man, then work down to the blue shallow crosser if the dig is capped, and finally the flat route as your checkdown against a hard blitz.
Pair this play in your call sheet with Orbit PA DBL Cross and PA Boot from the same set so the run fake and orbit motion look identical presnap, forcing the defense to respect multiple concepts off the same action.
Best used on early downs or in play-action heavy sequences after you have established the HB Dive or HB Slam run game so linebackers respect the fake and bite on the run action.
