Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
SFT Diamond X-Cross Trail lines up out of Bunch Str Offset in Shotgun with a tight bunch to the strength side. The diagram shows a deep vertical seam route up the numbers, a crossing route that works underneath from the bunch all the way across the field, a trail route stacked behind that crosser to combo with it, and a shallow flat/drag route breaking outside from the backfield area for an underneath outlet. This is a man beater built on the crosser and trail combo creating natural rub traffic and picking off man defenders in the bunch, while the deep vertical stresses any safety trying to help over the top. Progression starts with the deep vertical shot if the defense shows single high, then works down to the crosser to trail combo, with the flat route as the checkdown against pressure.
Defensive Reads
Pre snap identify whether the safety is rotating to the bunch side or staying deep middle, rotation toward the bunch signals man or cover 3 which opens up the trail combo. Watch the flat defender and any linebacker spying the underneath crossers, a linebacker sitting in the passing lane will jump the crosser and needs to be baited with the trail route stacking behind it. If corners are pressed at the line expect man coverage and lean on the natural rub created by the bunch release to spring the crosser. Zone shells with a deep half safety cheating over the vertical route shut down the top of this play, forcing the quarterback to work the crosser and trail underneath. Beware of a user controlled defender sitting in the shallow crossing lane, this is the primary lurk threat that can jump the trail route if the quarterback stares it down too long.
Usage Tips
Check the safety alignment before the snap, if you see two high safeties the trail and crosser combo underneath is your primary target since the deep vertical is capped. Against man coverage look immediately for the natural pick created by the bunch release, the trail route will come open late once the crosser occupies the trailing defender. Use this play on second and medium or third and short to long since it gives you a horizontal stretch with a built in checkdown to the flat. Hot route the flat runner into a quick out if you diagnose a blitz pre snap, this gives your quarterback a fast release valve. Pair this with SFT Diamond Fake Mesh Rail or SFT Diamond Mesh in the same set to keep defenses guessing between crossing routes and play action shots off identical bunch alignment.
