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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Inside Cross out of Shotgun Normal Y Off Wk lines up in 11 personnel and sends the backside X on a deep crosser that cuts across the formation underneath the far outside receiver's deep route. The Y off the ball runs a short drag underneath the crosser, creating a natural high low read against man coverage, while the frontside outside receiver clears vertically up the numbers to hold the corner and safety deep. This is a man beater at its core, using the crossing traffic to shake press or trail defenders, with the QB progression starting at the shallow drag, working to the deep crosser, and finally looking to the vertical clear out if the middle of the field opens up.
Defensive Reads
Man coverage with no safety help over the top is where this play thrives, especially if the defense shows Cover 1 or Cover 0 pre snap. Watch the middle linebacker or nickel defender at the snap, if he sprints to carry the drag route in man you have a natural pick working for the deep crosser. Cover 3 zone shells with a rangy Mike linebacker can sit right in the crossing lane and undercut both the drag and the deep cross, so respect that key before committing to the throw. If the defense shows two deep safeties pre snap (Cover 2 or Cover 4), expect the deep crosser to run into a defender sinking from the opposite hash, so be ready to check down to the drag instead. User controlled defenders lurking in the shallow zone or spying the middle of the field are the biggest threat to this concept, since they can jump the drag or squeeze the crossing route if you stare it down.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or second and medium when you expect man coverage, since the crossing traffic is designed to rub off trail defenders and linebackers in man.
Check the middle linebacker depth pre snap, if he is shaded low expect him to squat on the drag route and you should progress faster to the deep crosser.
Hot route the vertical clear out receiver into a comeback or hitch versus off man corners to give yourself a quicker underneath answer if the safety rotates late.
Pair this play with Double Slants earlier in a drive so defenders start jumping short routes, then hit them with the deep crosser once they overcommit to underneath throws.
Against zone heavy defenses, consider swapping to WR Under or Curl Combo from this same set since Inside Cross loses some effectiveness versus a sturdy zone with a rangy middle linebacker.
