Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 13 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Go Slot Cross runs a play-action shot play out of Shotgun Doubles Hip with 11 personnel, using a fake handoff to hold the linebackers before the QB works through his reads. The backside outside receiver sprints a vertical Go route up the sideline as a field-stretcher, while the two receivers on the trips side run a deep in-cut and a shallow cross that settles into an out, creating a natural high-low read against zone drops. This is a play-action man beater at its core, since the Go route isolates a corner deep and the crossing routes create natural picks and separation against man coverage, though the crosser also settles versus zone for a checkdown throw. The primary progression starts with the Go route on the backside, then works to the deep in-cut on the trips side, and finishes with the underneath cross settling into the flat as the check-down.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify the corner alignment on the backside Go route. If the corner is playing off with no safety help over the top, expect a shot play call, so play for the deep ball. Watch linebacker depth before the snap. Shallow linebackers who crash hard on run fakes leave the underneath cross wide open, so a defense with disciplined linebackers who stay home on play-action neutralizes the checkdown option. Post-snap, track the deep safety rotation. A single-high defense that rotates the free safety to the trips side deep in-cut takes away the second read but opens up the backside Go route in a true one-on-one look. User the underneath linebacker or nickel defender to sit in the crossing lane, since this play is vulnerable to a well-timed user lurk that jumps the shallow cross before it settles into the flat. Cover 3 with a hard buzz to the trips side and a discipline linebacker spy on the crosser is one of the toughest shells to beat, since it takes away both the intermediate and shallow reads while keeping a safety deep over the Go route.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs or in 2nd and medium situations where defenses expect run action off the play-action fake, since the shot play design punishes linebackers who bite hard on the run fake.
Check the safety alignment before the snap. Against two-high shells with the safeties staying deep, target the crosser settling into the flat since the Go route will be capped. Against single-high looks, take the shot on the backside Go route because you likely have a one-on-one matchup with the corner.
Hot route the crosser into a deeper dig if you are facing heavy zone drops from linebackers sitting in the shallow throwing lanes, this gives you a more reliable window against zone beaters.
Pair this play with Levels or Switch WR Drag from the same set to keep the defense honest, since both plays attack similar horizontal stretches but hit different depths, forcing linebackers to respect multiple crossing concepts.
Sequence this play after establishing Inside Zone or HB Draw earlier in the drive so linebackers step up on run action, opening the play-action window for the Go route and the in-cut behind them.
