Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 16 playbooks
Breakdown
Inside Cross from Shotgun Bunch TE aligns three receivers tight to the formation with an isolated X out wide. At the snap, the outside bunch receiver clears vertically on a deep go route while the middle bunch receiver runs a dig that settles across the field, and the inside bunch man works a shallow crosser underneath through the box, drawing a horizontal red route from the backfield alignment. The lone X receiver runs a flat clearout route to occupy the boundary corner, creating natural spacing for the crosser to work into. This is a man beater concept built on the shallow cross creating separation against trailing defenders, with the deep go and dig stretching the field vertically to hold safeties, and the primary read progression starts with the shallow crosser underneath before working up to the dig and finally the deep go route.
Defensive Reads
Check the depth of the linebackers pre-snap since a shallow drop from the middle linebacker signals awareness of the crosser and can jump the route for a pick six if you force the throw. Watch for a single high safety shell, which tells you the deep go route from the bunch is likely to draw help over the top and forces you to work the crosser and dig underneath instead. Man coverage on the bunch receivers with no safety help over the middle is the ideal shell to attack, since the crosser will create natural rub separation against tight trail technique. Zone coverage with a robber or lurk defender sitting in the shallow area shuts this down quickly, so identify if a linebacker or nickel defender is sitting at the sticks reading the quarterback's eyes before committing to the shallow crosser. Cover 3 with the corners bailing at the snap gives the dig route a soft spot to settle into against the seam, so progress off the crosser to the dig if the underneath defender flows with the cross too aggressively.
Usage Tips
Look for man coverage indicators pre-snap such as corners lined up tight on the bunch receivers before snapping this play, since the shallow cross thrives against man defenders who have to fight through traffic. Use the crosser as your first read on obvious passing downs like third and short to medium, letting the underneath route pick up quick yardage after the catch. Motion check the bunch alignment against the defense to confirm if linebackers or safeties are shifting to account for the crosser, and audible to a hot route adjustment on the X receiver if you see a corner blitz off that edge. Pair this play with Mesh or Bunch Levels from the same set to keep the defense guessing between crossing routes at different depths, since both stress zone defenders trying to pass off underneath traffic. Call this on early downs to set up Verts Y Delay later in the drive, using the run threat from HB Off Tackle or Inside Zone out of the same formation to hold linebackers before hitting the crosser in space.
