Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mesh out of Shotgun 5WR Tight sends two shallow crossers underneath from opposite sides that cross low over the middle to create natural traffic against man coverage, while a third receiver runs a deep corner route from the boundary and another works an in-cut settling behind the mesh point. The backside receiver takes off on a deep vertical to hold the safety and clear space underneath. This is a classic man beater built on pick action at the mesh point, with the primary read progression starting at the shallow crossers working the pick, then to the corner route if a man defender trails into traffic, and finally to the deep vertical as a last resort against soft coverage.
Defensive Reads
Pre snap, check for man coverage alignment on the two receivers running the shallow crossers since the pick action at the mesh point is designed to rub off man defenders. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, since shallow linebackers who sit flat footed can jump the crossing routes and blow up the mesh concept before it develops. Post snap, key any user controlled defender lurking in the shallow middle zone, as that player can sit in the mesh window and undercut both crossers. Zone coverage with a deep half safety over the corner route can take away the top of the progression, forcing the quarterback to check down into traffic underneath. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender squatting outside can jump the corner route, so be ready to see the quarterback reset to the shallow crossers immediately after the snap.
Usage Tips
Look for man coverage indicators pre-snap such as corners lined up tight on receivers with no visible safety help over the top before calling this play.
Use motion or a hard count to bait linebackers into showing blitz, since the shallow crossers are your answer against man pressure with no delay in the drop.
Hot route the corner route receiver into a quick out if you see a hard squat corner sitting on the sideline, since the corner route can get undercut by a zone defender playing outside leverage.
Pair Mesh with Z Spot or Z Spot Shake in your play sequencing so you can attack the same crossing concept with a horizontal stretch on obvious passing downs, keeping the defense guessing between rub routes and spot drops.
Best used on second and medium to third and medium since the mesh crossers need room to develop and a defense that is willing to press or match up man to man.
