Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Clearout Crosser out of Shotgun Split Close (20 personnel) sends the backside outside receiver on a deep clearout route up the sideline to drag coverage away, while the slot receiver runs a shallow crosser underneath from the closed side all the way across the field to the open sideline. On the strong side, the outside receiver runs a vertical clearout to stretch the deep defenders, and the HB releases on a shallow flat route as a checkdown outlet. This is a man beater built to spring the crosser on a rub or natural pick from traffic in the middle of the field, with the primary read being the crossing route first, then the HB flat route as the underneath outlet if the crosser is taken away.
Defensive Reads
Watch for two deep safeties pre-snap, which signals Cover 2 or Cover 4 and can clog the clearout routes, forcing the crosser into a crowded middle read. If you see man coverage with defenders lined up tight on both outside receivers, expect the crosser to have early separation off the rub, so user the nearest linebacker or slot defender to trail and disrupt the crossing route. Identify Tampa 2 or Cover 3 sink linebackers who will drop into the shallow crossing lane, since a well timed zone drop can undercut the crosser before it develops. On blitz calls, key the HB release out of the backfield, since a spy or blitzer assigned to the flat can jump the check-down route if the crosser is covered. Cover 1 or Cover 0 pressure looks are the most dangerous defensive answer here, since the lack of deep help combined with tight man coverage can allow a defender to stay in phase with the crosser through the traffic.
Usage Tips
Look for man coverage indicators pre-snap such as tight press alignment on both outside receivers, since the crosser thrives against man due to the natural rub it gets from traffic near the formation.
Motion the HB or use a hot route to delay his flat release if you diagnose a blitz, giving him extra time to chip before leaking out as a check-down.
This play pairs well with Mesh and Mesh Spot in the same set since both rely on crossing traffic to shake man defenders, so alternate between them to keep defenders guessing on which crosser will be the primary target.
Use this on second and medium to second and long situations where defenses are more willing to play man coverage and blitz, since the clearout routes will pull safeties away from the shallow crosser.
If the defense shows zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4, consider hot routing the crosser to sit down in the void behind the linebackers instead of running full speed across, turning it into more of a zone beater option.
