Playbooks

X Cross

Shotgun·Doubles Off Close Wk·11

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 2 playbooks

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Breakdown

X Cross out of Shotgun Doubles Off Close Wk is a man beater built around the X receiver working a deep crossing route from one side of the field to the other, stressing man defenders who have to fight through traffic and trail across the formation. The underneath concept typically gives you a shallow drag or in-cut as a checkdown option while the crosser stretches the field horizontally at depth, forcing linebackers and safeties to make a choice between the two levels. Your primary read starts with the X on the deep cross, then works down to the underneath option if the crosser is taken away or if you see a robber sitting in the middle of the field.

Defensive Reads

Identify man coverage pre-snap by checking if cornerbacks are aligned tight with no help over the top, since this is exactly what the X cross wants to exploit. Watch for a middle linebacker or safety sitting in a hook zone or acting as a rat in the middle of the field, because that defender can undercut the crossing route and jump the throw. Key on Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells with underneath zone defenders sinking hard, which can clog the crossing lane and force you to check down early. Post snap, track any user controlled defender flying across the formation to lurk the crosser, and be ready to climb the pocket or reset your eyes to the underneath route if that happens. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge can be an issue since the deep cross takes time to develop, so recognize overload pressure looks pre-snap and be ready to get the ball out early on the shallow option.

Usage Tips

Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to bait linebackers into showing man coverage before the snap so you know the X crosser will have a clean angle. This play thrives on third and medium to third and long when defenses lean on man concepts with no true zone shell over the top. If you see two high safeties rotating late, hot route your underneath receiver into a quick out or speed out to punish soft zone corners instead of forcing the deep cross into traffic. Pair this with Mtn PA Y Cross or PA Y Cross from the same set so defenses cannot sit on the crossing route concept without opening up play action shots off the same look. Once defenses start jumping the crosser, sequence into Mtn RPO Peek Slant or RPO Read Bubble to keep linebackers honest with quick game answers.

Other Plays in Doubles Off Close Wk