Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA H Cross is a play-action pass out of Shotgun Spread with 10 personnel that sells the run fake before working a deep crossing route as the primary weapon. Off the play-action mesh point, the deep crosser (red route) breaks from the left side of the formation and stems across the field on a long diagonal, giving the quarterback a chance to hit it in stride against man or zone defenders who lose ground during the run fake. The outside receiver on that side runs a short pivot/speed out to hold underneath defenders, while on the right side one receiver clears vertically up the seam and the other runs a shallow drag into the flat, giving you a curl flat combo underneath to hold linebackers and safeties. The primary read is the deep crosser first, working from the play action fake to the far flat/drag route if the middle of the field is clogged.
Defensive Reads
Read the linebacker depth immediately after the snap, if they bite hard on the run fake the crosser will be wide open behind them. Watch for a user controlled defender sitting in the middle of the field (lurk) since that is the primary counter to the deep crosser and will jump the route if it is thrown late. Check safety rotation presnap, two high shells with safeties staying deep will squeeze the window for the crosser and force you to check down to the flat or drag. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the ideal shell to attack, the crosser should create natural separation off the play fake and the traffic near the formation. Watch for edge blitzers crashing off the play fake, since this beats zone and man but is vulnerable to quick pressure if the offensive line does not account for extra rushers.
Usage Tips
Use PA H Cross on early downs, second and medium or third and long once the defense respects the run to maximize the play-action freeze on linebackers.
Presnap, identify single high versus two high safety shells, this play thrives against single high because the deep crosser has more room to work behind the linebackers and in front of the safety.
Hot route the flat route on the right side into a deeper option if you see a Cover 3 shell with a hard flat defender, that will open up the shallow drag conversion.
Pair this call with Y Cross or Z Shallow Cross earlier in a drive so the defense keys on shallow crossers, then hit them with PA H Cross for an explosive gain over the top.
Against aggressive blitz looks, check into a quick game concept like Quick Slants or use the play action fake as extra protection since the deep crosser takes time to develop.
