Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Double Cross is a dual crosser concept out of Shotgun Doubles Offset Wk that isolates two intersecting shallow routes underneath a deep outside route. The backside receiver runs a deep go up the sideline while the two inside receivers cross the field at short depth, one settling into a shallow drag and the other working across at a slightly deeper angle before turning upfield, and the outside receiver on the strong side pushes a vertical seam up the numbers. This is a man beater built to create natural rubs and picks on the crossing routes, with the deep go and outside vertical stretching the field to hold safeties. The primary read starts with the shallow crosser working away from pressure, then progresses to the deeper cross settling into space, with the outside vertical as the home run shot if the corner bites on the underneath traffic.
Defensive Reads
Watch for user-controlled linebackers sitting in the crossing lanes, since a good user defender can undercut both shallow routes if he reads the quarterback's eyes early. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender can jump the shallow drag route, so know your check down or move to the deeper cross when you see the corner sink into the throwing lane. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the biggest weakness of this defense, since both crossers create natural traffic that man defenders struggle to fight through. Watch for a blitz off the edge on the side of the deep go route, since that receiver is often uncovered by a blocker and the quarterback needs to get through his reads before the pressure arrives. Two high safety shells that roll down late can take away the shallow cross window, so identify post-snap rotation and be ready to climb to the deeper crosser instead of forcing the underneath throw.
Usage Tips
Check pre-snap for man coverage indicators like tight press alignment on the outside receivers, since the crossing routes are designed to rub off defenders and create natural separation against man.
On third and medium to long, trust the deeper cross to sit down in the void between linebacker levels if the defense drops into zone.
If you see a single high safety shell, look to the outside vertical route immediately since the corner is often isolated with no deep help over the top.
Use hot routes to convert the shallow drag into a quick hitch against tight man coverage if the defender is playing underneath with no cushion.
Pair this play with H Shallow Cross or Slants earlier in a series so the defense starts keying on shallow crossers, then hit them with the deep go route shot off similar route action once they cheat their linebackers down.
