Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Z Shallow Cross out of Shotgun Spread 10 personnel isolates a five man route concept with two vertical clear outs on the outside, a deep dig from the slot, a shallow crosser working underneath from the backside, and a check release out of the backfield running an angle route into the flat. The two outside receivers stem straight up the field to clear the underneath zones and pull safeties deep, while the shallow cross sits as the primary answer against man coverage and the angle route from the backfield gives a built in zone beater against sinking linebackers. Primary progression starts with the shallow crosser working left to right, then the angle route out of the backfield, and finally works up to the deep dig if the underneath windows are clogged.
Defensive Reads
Read the safety alignment before the snap, two high shells signal zone coverage underneath which opens the shallow cross and angle route as easy completions. Watch for man coverage indicators like corners lined up tight to the outside receivers, this play thrives against man because the shallow cross drags defenders into traffic and creates natural rub opportunities. Key the middle linebacker depth at the snap, if he sits and jumps the shallow crosser's route the quarterback should climb the progression to the deep dig or peek to the angle route in the flat. User controlled defenders who lurk in the shallow zone will disrupt the primary read, so if you see a user drop into that window immediately look to the backfield angle route as the built in answer. This concept can get shut down by aggressive Cover 3 sink drops from linebackers combined with disciplined zone drops, since that combination clogs both the shallow cross and angle route lanes simultaneously.
Usage Tips
Use this on third and medium or third and long when you need a defined man beater with a built in rules based answer versus zone. Pre-snap, check for two high safeties, if the shell rotates to man coverage with press corners, lean on the shallow cross since it works away from the concept and creates natural separation off the pick action. If linebackers are sitting shallow with tight coverage over the crosser, hot route the backfield angle route to a flat or check it down quickly before the pocket collapses. Pair this play with Y Cross or Mesh in your call sheet since both stress the same shallow underneath area but attack from different angles, forcing defenders to guess run fits. Against zone heavy defenses, trust the deep dig late in your progression since the vertical routes will hold safeties and linebackers will be occupied by the shallow crosser and angle route underneath.
