Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Slot Fade Cross is an empty formation dropback pass out of Shotgun Empty Base Trio that stresses the field horizontally and vertically at the same time. To the left the outside receiver runs a corner route up the sideline while the inside slot receiver runs a quick out breaking underneath him, and to the right the outside receiver runs a deep fade up the numbers while the inside receiver in the near slot works a deep crosser all the way across the field. This is a man beater built around the crosser creating natural rub traffic against man defenders while the fade and corner routes occupy the deep quarters, so the primary read progression starts with the deep crosser working from right to left, then works out to the corner route on the backside if the crosser gets picked up.
Defensive Reads
Watch the linebacker depth pre-snap, if the middle linebacker is sitting shallow he can undercut the deep crosser and force the quarterback to hold the ball. Identify single high safety alignments, this play struggles against a robber or lurk defender sitting in the deep middle since the crosser runs directly into that zone. Key the corners at the snap, if they open their hips and run with the fade and corner routes in man coverage this play is live, but if they sit in press bail zone technique the crosser becomes the only real answer. Look for a user controlled defender spying the middle of the field, since the crosser is the primary read and a smart user lurk can jump the route and bait an interception. Recognize blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge, since the quarterback needs time to let the crosser develop across the field and a fast pressure package forces an early checkdown.
Usage Tips
Check the safety alignment before the snap, if you see two deep safeties sitting at 12 yards this is a great shot to take on the crosser sitting down against zone or working through traffic against man.
Use the crosser as your first read against man coverage since it creates natural separation off the rub with the underlying out route, then reset to the corner route if a linebacker or safety picks up the shallow crosser.
This play hits best on second and long or third and medium when the defense is more likely to play zone shells or single high looks, since the fade and corner both need room to work the boundary.
Pair this play with Drag Slot Fade or Hoss Juke earlier in a series so defenders start jumping the quick out and drag concepts, then hit them with the deep crosser and fade combo once they bite on the shorter routes.
Hot route the underneath out route into a flat route if you are facing a hard corner blitz look, this gives the quarterback a quick outlet without disrupting the deep crosser read.
