Playbooks
Slot Cross is a crosser-based man beater out of Shotgun Doubles Flex WK Pats that stresses linebackers and safeties with a deep dig or crossing route working from one side of the field to the other. The blocking scheme keeps the backfield in max protect or check release, giving the quarterback time to let the crosser develop against man coverage while shorter routes underneath act as a checkdown or man beater against trailing defenders. The primary read progression starts with the deep crosser working across the middle, then works down to the underneath routes if the crosser is not open, and finally to any check release back out of the backfield.
As the defense, key the crosser immediately at the snap and use a user-controlled linebacker or safety to sit in the passing lane and jump the route, since this is the primary read the offense wants. Show a two high safety look presnap to bait the quarterback into thinking zone, then rotate into man coverage after the snap to disguise the coverage and disrupt the timing of the crosser. Watch for the offense to check release their running back out of the backfield on later downs, since the quarterback often works to this option once the crosser and underneath routes are covered. Play a Cover 3 or Cover 4 zone shell with a linebacker spying the crossing route depth to force the quarterback into a longer developing throw, increasing the chance of a sack or forced incompletion on a delayed blitz. Look for the offense to sequence this play after a screen or quick game call, so anticipate a bigger shot down the middle if the linebackers bit hard on run action from the previous snap.
Presnap, identify if the defense is showing man coverage by checking for a single high safety and tight corner alignment on the outside receivers, since the crosser thrives against man because of the natural rub and separation created crossing the field.
If you see two high safeties or a clear Cover 2 or Cover 4 shell, consider hot routing the crosser into a shallow drag or sitting it down against zone to avoid throwing into a robber or lurking linebacker.
Use this play on second and medium to second and long or third and medium situations where the defense is more likely to sit in man to take away shorter routes, since the crosser needs time and space to develop.
Pair Slot Cross with Patriots Drag or Mtn Slot Post in the same set to keep the defense guessing between crossing concepts and vertical shots, forcing linebackers to widen their drops and open up the middle of the field.
Combine with Fl Screen or Mtn HB Cross Screen earlier in a series to bait aggressive linebackers into crashing downhill, making the crosser even more effective on the following play call when they overcommit to underneath run fits.