Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Y Shallow Cross out of Shotgun Doubles sends the Y (slot) on a shallow crossing route underneath while the backside outside receiver runs a deep corner-post and the frontside outside receiver clears vertically up the numbers. The remaining inside slot receiver runs a short out to the flat and the far outside receiver on the opposite side of the field runs a straight vertical, stretching the defense from underneath to deep. This is a man beater concept built to create natural rub traffic on the shallow cross while the vertical routes hold safeties, with the primary read starting on the shallow crosser and progressing to the flat route before working back to the deep shots.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a linebacker or slot corner sitting in a shallow zone drop directly in the crosser's path, which signals zone coverage and should push the quarterback to the flat or vertical options instead. If the defense shows man coverage with no safety help over the top on the corner-post route, expect a big play down the field once the shallow cross clears the underneath traffic. Key the middle linebacker's depth at the snap since a shallow drop or blitz look often leaves the shallow cross wide open in the intermediate middle of the field. User-controlled defenders sitting in a lurk technique over the shallow cross can jump the route, so read their eyes and hips before committing to that throw. Against a Cover 3 or Cover 4 zone shell, the flat route and shallow cross working underneath the deep zone drops are the highest percentage completions.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion or a quick glance at the slot corner alignment to confirm man coverage before snapping since the shallow cross thrives against man match defenders who have to fight through traffic.
Start your eyes on the shallow crosser working across the field and put the ball on time in stride to prevent trailing defenders from closing the throwing window.
If the defense shows two high safeties and soft zone drops, work the flat route as your check down since the shallow crosser will run into zone traffic underneath.
Pair this play with 45 Quick Base or Curl Flats on early downs to set up the shallow cross as a change of pace once linebackers start jumping short zone drops.
Best called on second and medium or third and short to medium since the shallow cross needs room to develop and the flat route offers a safe underneath outlet.
