Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Steelers Cross is a five-man route empty concept out of Shotgun Empty Steeler with 11 personnel. The two outside receivers on each side run vertical routes to stretch the defense deep and clear underneath space, while the slot receiver from the left runs a deep dig that breaks up toward the numbers. The key route is the long red crosser that starts from the right slot, works flat across the field behind the line of scrimmage, and settles or continues toward the opposite sideline, giving the quarterback a horizontal stretch read against man or zone coverage. This is a man beater first, since the crosser creates natural rub traffic and separation against trailing defenders, but it also holds up against zone thanks to the two vertical stretches occupying deep defenders.
Defensive Reads
Watch the crosser as the primary route to key on, it is the built in answer versus man coverage and will actively look to sit down or continue against zone drops. If the defense shows two high safeties presnap, expect softer underneath coverage and prioritize the dig route breaking toward the numbers before working to the crosser. Beware of user controlled linebackers sitting in the shallow crossing lane, a lurking defender there can jump the crosser route and create a turnover opportunity. Man coverage with tight press alignment on the outside receivers is where this play excels, since the crosser exploits the traffic created by the route combination. Zone blitzes or nano blitz packages that bring extra rushers up front can disrupt timing on the crosser before it develops, so watch for overloaded fronts presnap and be ready to check into a quicker breaking route from the same set.
Usage Tips
Presnap, identify whether the defense is showing single high or two high safeties, since the verticals on both edges will hold safeties honest and open up the crosser underneath.
Against man coverage, trust the crosser to work across the field and create natural separation off traffic, especially versus off man or press man alignments.
Against zone, look to hit the dig route breaking toward the numbers as your first read before working across the field to the crosser.
Use this play on second or third and medium situations where the horizontal stretch of the crosser can pick up a first down against zone defenses sitting in shallow drops.
Pair this call with Steelers Shake or Y-Stick from the same set to keep defenses honest on shorter routes, then hit Steelers Go later in the series once safeties start cheating up to stop the crosser.
