Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 12 playbooks
Breakdown
Post Cross is a five man route concept out of Shotgun Empty Chips Nasty that attacks the middle and deep third of the field with a true post route paired with a deep crosser. The backside X releases vertically and breaks into a post to attack the safety over the top, while the slot receiver on the strong side runs a deep crosser all the way across the field underneath the post, creating a natural rub against man coverage. Both outside receivers at the numbers run go routes to hold the corners deep and clear underneath space, and this is an empty protection look with no running back, meaning it is a five wide passer read progression play designed to punish man coverage first with the crosser as the primary read, then work to the post if the safety bites on the underneath traffic.
Defensive Reads
Check the free safety depth and leverage before the snap, because a single high safety who cheats toward the post side removes the vertical shot and forces the quarterback to live on the crosser. Watch for a cornerback sitting in a deep third zone shell on the post side, since that defender can undercut the post route if he does not respect the outside vertical. In man coverage, look for a linebacker or nickel defender trailing the deep crosser, this is the primary man beater rep and the crosser should separate quickly against man leverage. Versus zone, identify any underneath robber or hook defender sitting in the middle of the field, because that player can jump the crosser route as it crosses the field and turn it into a turnover. Because this is an empty backfield with no running back, defenses often bring extra pressure, so read the interior of the offensive line at the snap to see if a blitzer is unaccounted for and adjust the throw timing accordingly.
Usage Tips
Use this play on second and long or third and medium when you need a defined explosive shot down the field but still have a checkdown-style answer with the crosser.
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is in a two high shell or single high look, because the post route needs the safety to be occupied by the vertical routes on the outside to hit for a big gain.
Against man coverage, key the deep crosser first since it naturally picks off man defenders trailing from the opposite side, then progress to the post if the crosser gets taken away.
Motion is not built in here, so if you want extra deception, pair this call with X Cross or Dig Stick from the same set so the defense sees similar initial route stems and cannot jump the crosser look.
Empty formations remove your running back protection, so get the ball out on time against four man rushes and avoid this call versus known heavy blitz down and distances unless you have a hot route answer.
Other Plays in Empty Chips Nasty
DaggerDagger, Pass Play, Cover 2 Beater +1
Dagger Deep CurlCurl, Dagger, Pass Play +2
Deep Post OutOut, Post, Pass Play
Dig StickDig, Stick, Stick Concept +1
Double 7 StopPass Play, Hitch, Out +4
Double SwirlPass Play, Quick Pass, Out +4
Out X DigOut, Dig, Pass Play- QB Zone
Slot SailSail, Pass Play, Cover 2 Beater +1
X CrossCrosser, Pass Play- X Whip In