Playbooks

Cross H Divide

Shotgun·Spread Y-Flex·11
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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Cross H Divide is a man beater built out of Shotgun Spread Y-Flex that attacks the middle of the field with a divide concept, sending crossing routes at different levels to create natural rubs and separation against man coverage. The H back runs a crossing route underneath while a divide route from the opposite side splits the safeties vertically, forcing a horizontal and vertical stretch simultaneously. Blocking is standard pass protection with the back or TE available as a checkdown, and the primary read progression starts with the divide route up the seam before working down to the H crossing route and the underneath checkdown if the pocket collapses.

Defensive Reads

Look for two high safeties pre-snap, this indicates a zone shell that will struggle to cover the vertical stretch created by the divide route Watch linebacker depth at the snap, shallow drops from the mike or will linebacker signal a zone drop that opens a window for the H crossing route behind them Identify user controlled defenders sitting in the middle of the field as a lurking threat, a spy or rat linebacker sitting in the crosser lane can jump the throw and create a turnover Man coverage with a single high safety is the ideal shell for this concept because the crossing routes create natural traffic and separation against man defenders Cover 3 with an aggressive underneath robber or a well timed nano blitz through the middle can shut this play down quickly, so be ready to check to a hot route or throw the checkdown if pressure arrives before the divide route clears the safeties

Usage Tips

Check the safety alignment pre-snap because a two high shell tells you the divide route has room to work the deep middle before the safeties can rotate over

Motion the H back to identify man versus zone coverage, if a defender follows the motion you know you are getting man coverage and the crossing route becomes your primary

Use hot routes to convert the outside receiver into a hitch or slant if you see press man corners jumping the route stems at the line

This play hits best on second and medium to second and long when defenses are more willing to play zone shells and give up the middle of the field

Pair this play with Mesh or Y Cross earlier in a drive to condition the defense to crossing patterns, then hit them with Four Verticals or PA Seams to punish overaggressive linebacker drops sitting on shallow crossers

Other Plays in Spread Y-Flex