Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
90 Y Shallow out of Shotgun Spread Slots Close 10 personnel is a classic shallow cross concept built to attack man coverage. The Y runs a deep cross underneath from the backside, the two slot receivers run a drag and dig combo across the middle with the near slot dragging flat across the field while the far outside receivers push vertical corner routes up the seams, and the HB releases on a wheel route out of the backfield to stretch the flat and clear underneath traffic. Primary read progression starts with the shallow drag crossing the field, works to the dig sitting down in the middle void, and finishes with the HB wheel as a checkdown or big play option against blown coverage.
Defensive Reads
Check pre snap safety alignment, two high shells with soft corners are vulnerable to the shallow drag sitting underneath and away from deep help. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they sink too fast into zone drops the dig route will find a soft window in the middle. Man coverage with no safety help over the crossers is the biggest weakness of this concept since the natural rub from the drag and dig routes creates instant separation. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge can be an issue since the shallow drag takes time to develop across the field, so watch for user blitzers crashing off the corner. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender can jump the shallow drag early, so if you see the flat defender sitting low pre snap, be ready to go through your progression to the dig or HB wheel instead.
Usage Tips
Pre snap identify if the defense is showing man or zone by checking linebacker depth and whether the slot corners are pressed up on your receivers. Against man coverage let the shallow drag work across the field and rely on natural pick traffic from the crossing routes to create separation. Against zone coverage look to the dig route settling into the soft spot behind the linebackers and in front of the safeties. Use the HB wheel as a home run shot against defenses that bite hard on the underneath crossers or against man coverage with a linebacker in coverage on the back. This play pairs well with RNS Y Stick or RNS 90 Replace Y Stick in your play calling sequence since both use similar formation motion and route stems, keeping the defense guessing between quick game and the deeper crossing concept. Best called on second or third and medium situations where the shallow cross has room to develop before the pocket collapses.
