Playbooks

RZ Cross HB Choice

Shotgun·Normal Y Off Close·11

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

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Breakdown

RZ Cross HB Choice is a redzone-designed man beater out of Shotgun Normal Y Off Close that pairs a crossing route from the Y with a choice route out of the backfield from the HB. The crossing receiver works to occupy underneath zone defenders or lose man coverage across the field, while the HB choice route reads the leverage of the covering linebacker or safety and breaks in or out for a high-percentage completion near the goal line. The primary read progression starts with the deep cross for a explosive shot, then works down to the HB choice as the safety valve against man coverage or blitz looks.

Defensive Reads

Identify press man coverage on the crossing receiver pre-snap, since that alignment signals the cross will win once it clears the initial jam. Watch the flow of the middle linebacker after the snap, if he bites on run action or bubbles out to the flat, the HB choice route will sit down in the vacated space. Cover 3 zone shells with a hard-charging underneath defender can jump the crossing route, so be ready to check down to the HB choice as your zone beater answer. Man coverage with an inside linebacker on the HB is the softest matchup, attack that leverage immediately since linebackers struggle to mirror the choice route's lateral break. Beware disguised blitzes where the slot defender crashes downhill, this can collapse the pocket before the cross fully develops, so keep an eye on the user rush off the edge.

Usage Tips

Call this play inside the 20 yard line where the compressed field makes the crossing route and HB choice option especially deadly against man coverage.

Pre-snap, check for single high safety looks or man coverage indicators like corners lining up tight to receivers, since the choice route thrives when the defender has to guess in or out.

Hot route the backside receiver into a quick out or slant if you diagnose a zone blitz, giving you an outlet before the natural progression develops.

Use motion or a play fake with Read Option or Power Read from this same set beforehand to get linebackers flowing and open up the crossing route behind them.

On third and short in the redzone, prioritize the HB choice read immediately since the defender's run fit responsibility often conflicts with covering the back out of the backfield.

Other Plays in Normal Y Off Close