Playbooks

Y Cross

Shotgun·Doubles HB Wk·11

Crosser Y Cross Pass Play Deep Cross Dig Fade

Likely unavailable in the playbook builder

This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetDoubles HB Wk

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 1 playbook

Elites OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Y Cross out of Shotgun Doubles HB Wk is a classic man beater built around the tight end running a deep crossing route from one side of the field to the other, using natural traffic from the other receivers to shake man coverage. The line slides into a standard pass protection look while the backfield RB offers a check release into the flat as a safety valve, giving the quarterback a built in outlet against pressure. The primary read progression starts with the Y crosser working across the middle, then bounces to the underneath flat route, and finally to any dig or in cut breaking on the opposite side if the crosser gets picked up late.

Defensive Reads

Pre snap, check corner alignment on the Y receiver's side, if the corner is playing tight man with no safety help over the top the crosser should win against almost any man scheme. Identify single high shells like Cover 1 or Cover 3, this play beats both if the crosser can clear the hash before the middle linebacker or robber safety closes the throwing lane. Watch for user controlled lurk defenders sitting in the shallow middle zone, a smart user will sink and squat on the crossing route, so be ready to check down to the flat route immediately if you see this happen post snap. Diagnose Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells pre snap by reading safety depth, if both safeties stay deep and split the field the crosser can still work underneath but the throwing window shrinks against a sinking linebacker. Key on blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge, since the crosser needs a full count to develop, a well timed nano blitz can force a quick throw before the route matures, so have your check down ready against aggressive fronts.

Usage Tips

Snap the ball and immediately locate the Y crosser, if you see man coverage across the formation the crosser should be wide open once he clears the congestion in the middle of the field.

Use your right stick to guide the quarterback's eyes to the crosser first, then progress to the flat route if a linebacker or safety sits in a shallow zone and takes away the crossing lane.

This play shines on second and medium to third and short since the crosser needs time to develop, so avoid calling it on third and long against heavy pass rush packages.

Hot route the backside receiver into a quick out or slant if you diagnose Cover 3 or Cover 4 pre snap, giving yourself an immediate answer if the safety shell rotates hard to the crosser's side.

Pair Y Cross with Slants or Double Slants earlier in a drive to condition the defense to sit on shallow routes, then come back to Y Cross to hit the deeper crossing window once linebackers start jumping quick game.