Playbooks

H Cross

Shotgun·Spread Y-Slot Wk·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.

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Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetSpread Y-Slot Wk

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 1 playbook

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffense

Breakdown

H Cross is a shotgun 11 personnel passing concept built around a deep crossing route from the H (slot) receiver that stretches the field horizontally and attacks the middle of the field. The concept pairs the cross with an underneath drag or flat option and a vertical clear-out route to open the seam and hi-lo linebackers in zone coverage. This play works as both a man beater, since the crosser creates natural separation off a pick or rub, and a zone beater, since the cross settles into passing lanes against Cover 3 and Cover 2 defenses. The primary read progression starts with the deep cross working across the field, then moves to the underneath drag or check down option if the middle linebacker sinks and closes the crossing lane.

Defensive Reads

Read the middle linebacker depth at the snap, since a shallow drop means he can wall off the crosser, while a deeper drop opens the throwing lane immediately. Identify the safety shell before the snap, since a two high look tells you the crosser can work into a soft zone between the safeties, while a single high shell means you need to watch for a robber or lurk defender sitting on the crossing route. Watch for user linebackers spying the crosser, since a user controlled defender sitting in the middle of the field is the biggest threat to this concept and can bait you into an interception if you force the throw. This play struggles against aggressive Cover 4 or match quarters coverage where the underneath defenders can sink and reroute the crosser, so be ready to check down quickly. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge can affect your timing on the cross, so recognize pre-snap blitz indicators like linebackers creeping toward the line and be ready to get the ball out on time or use your check down as a blitz beater.

Usage Tips

Use pre-snap motion or a quick shift to identify if the defense is playing man or zone before the snap, since the H Cross concept punishes both but requires different timing for each coverage type.

Against man coverage, let the deep cross develop fully because the natural pick action against trailing defenders creates the separation you need for an explosive gain.

Against zone shells like Cover 3, hit the crosser as soon as he crosses the face of the middle linebacker, since sitting on the throw too long lets the backside safety close the window.

Hot route the flat or drag route into a spot route on third and medium if you are facing a defense that sits its underneath linebackers deep, since this creates an easy completion in front of the sticks.

Pair H Cross with Double Cross or Inside Cross in the same set to keep the defense guessing on crossing route timing, then mix in Four Verticals or PA Dagger to punish defenders who start jumping the crossing routes.