Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Post Cross is an empty formation dropback pass out of Shotgun Empty Chips Nasty that isolates two deep intermediate crossers against man and zone shells. The backside receiver runs a deep post to stretch the safety while the two receivers on the strong side run a mesh style cross, with the outer receiver clearing over the middle and the inner slot man breaking underneath him on a shallow crosser. The two outside receivers on the numbers run go routes up the sideline to hold the corners deep and clear the underneath crossing lanes, with no running back in the backfield to check release, meaning this is a pure five man route concept designed to win with spacing and picks against man coverage. Primary read starts with the backside post to see if the safety bites, then works to the deep crosser coming across the field, and finally settles on the shallow cross underneath if the defense sits deep.
Defensive Reads
Man coverage defenses struggle with this concept because the crossing routes create natural rub picks that separate receivers from their assigned defenders, especially against Cover 1 or Cover 0 man blitzes. Cover 3 zone with a single high safety is vulnerable to the backside post since the corner is often left without deep help if the safety cheats toward the crossers. Watch for a robber or lurk defender sitting in the middle of the field, since a smart user player can sit in the passing lane of the shallow cross and jump the underdeep throw. Disguised two high shells that rotate to single high after the snap can trap the quarterback into throwing the post into a safety who bailed late, so patience on the initial read is critical. Zone blitzes that drop a defensive lineman into the shallow crossing lane will clog the underneath option, forcing the quarterback to hold the ball longer and increasing sack risk against extra pass rushers.
Usage Tips
Look for single high safety alignment before the snap since the backside post is the primary answer against a Cover 3 or Cover 1 shell that leaves a corner isolated on an island.
If you see two deep safeties split evenly, work the deep crosser first since it will cross the middle of the field and put a linebacker in a tough spot chasing across the formation.
Use motion or a hot route to check the shallow cross into a quick option route if you diagnose a hard blitz, since the empty backfield gives zero protection help against six or seven man pressure.
This play pairs well with Dagger and Dagger Deep Curl in the same set since both stress the same deep intermediate windows, forcing the defense to declare their shell before you know which one to call.
Best used on second and medium to second and long since the deep crossing routes take time to develop and you need a clean pocket to let the reads mature.
