Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
TE Cross out of Pistol U Off Trips 12 personnel gives you a shallow crosser from the backside TE working underneath the trips side, a deep corner route from the inline TE breaking outside, and a vertical clear from the backside receiver off the numbered "X". On the trips side, one receiver runs a deep out to the boundary while the other clears vertically up the seam, stretching the defense horizontally and vertically at the same time. This is a man beater at its core, the crosser picks off man defenders trailing across the field while the vertical routes hold safeties, so the primary read progression starts with the TE crosser underneath, then works to the deep corner route if a linebacker or safety squats on the shallow crosser.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a linebacker spying or sitting in the middle of the field, if he stays home on the crosser you need to progress immediately to the corner route or vertical clear. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the ideal shell to attack, the crosser will separate quickly against any linebacker or safety trailing in man. Zone coverage with a deep half safety rotated to the trips side can undercut the deep out route, so read the safety depth before throwing to that sideline. A user-controlled defender lurking in the shallow middle zone can jump the TE crosser, so double check for spy alignment or a rat linebacker before committing to that throw. Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with corners playing outside leverage will bait you into the crosser, but watch for underneath linebackers sinking to take away that window late.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing single high or two high safeties, since the crosser needs room to work underneath a single high shell to be effective.
Check the trips side cornerback depth, if he is playing off you can hit the deep out route quickly before the flat defender can react.
Use this play on second and medium or third and short to medium since the crosser develops quickly and gives you a safe completion versus most man coverages.
If you see Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells, hot route the backside vertical clear into a comeback or hitch to give yourself a quicker outlet against zone drops.
Pair this with PA Boot or PA Boot Over from the same set to keep linebackers honest on run action before hitting them with the same crossing concept off play-action.
Sequence this behind Quick Slants or Stick earlier in a series to condition defenders to jump underneath routes, then hit the deeper corner route for an explosive play once they bite.
