Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
FL Cross is a five-man route concept out of Shotgun Spread with 10 personnel. The flanker runs a deep crossing route from the backside all the way across the field as the primary man beater, while the two receivers on the strong side stack a deep dig and an intermediate crosser underneath it, and the back release out of the backfield runs a flat/drag route to hold linebackers and give the quarterback an outlet. This is a zone and man beater concept built on horizontal stretch, with the flanker cross as the first read, working down to the deep dig, then checking down to the flat route underneath.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flanker cross immediately at the snap since it is the primary read and dictates where user-controlled defenders will lurk. Key the middle linebacker depth pre-snap, if he is sitting shallow expect him to jump the drag route and take away the checkdown. Identify Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells by safety alignment, since the deep dig has to split the numbers between the corner and safety in those coverages. Против man coverage, look for the flanker cross to create natural separation off the rub with the underneath crosser, this is where blitzing linebackers get picked off in traffic. Beware disguised Cover 1 robber defenses sitting in the middle of the field, they can undercut both the deep dig and the crossing route if the quarterback holds the ball too long.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to see if the defense shifts to trigger man coverage, since the flanker cross creates natural rub separation against man defenders.
Identify single-high shells before the snap because the deep dig sitting behind the cross becomes the best window against Cover 3 and Cover 1 robber looks.
Hot route the drag underneath into a spot or shallow cross if you are seeing heavy underneath zone drops clogging the middle of the field.
Best called on second and medium to second and long, giving the flanker cross time to develop across the field before pressure arrives.
Pair this with Y Cross or Z Shallow Cross on the next snap to keep linebackers guessing between crossers breaking left and right off similar pre-snap looks.
