Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Deep Cross is run from Empty Trips Speed out of Shotgun with 11 personnel, using five receivers spread wide and no running back in the backfield. The lone receiver to the backside runs a deep dig that breaks all the way across the field on a deep crosser, while the trips side runs a flat route, a corner route, and a short hitch to hold underneath defenders and clear space for the crosser. This is a man beater at its core since the deep cross creates natural separation against trailing defenders, and the primary read progression starts with the deep crosser working from the backside before checking down to the flat route or the corner route on the trips side if the crosser is covered.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and alignment, since two deep safeties in a shell will have help over the top on the deep cross. Identify man coverage by watching if defenders shift with receiver motion or align tight to the trips bunch, which tells you the crosser will win against trailing defenders. Post-snap, key on the middle linebacker and any user-controlled defender dropping into a lurk technique in the middle of the field, since that defender can jump the deep crosser if the quarterback holds the ball too long. Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells with a deep middle defender sitting on crossing routes are the biggest threat to this concept, since they take away the primary read and force a checkdown. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers without dropping a spy into the crosser's lane are exploitable, since the quarterback can hit the crosser in stride before the pressure arrives.
Usage Tips
Use empty backfield alignment to force the defense to declare coverage before the snap, since there is no run threat to disguise.
Look for man coverage indicators like receivers being followed pre-snap, then trust the deep crosser to win against linebackers and safeties trailing across the field.
Hot route the flat route into a deeper option if the defense shows zone coverage with a linebacker sitting underneath, since that route can get clogged.
This play is best on second and long or third and long when you need a big chunk play, since the deep cross takes time to develop and needs a clean pocket.
Pair Deep Cross with Flanker Under or Whip Unders in the same set to keep the defense guessing between quick underneath throws and the slower developing deep crosser.
