Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
All Cross out of Shotgun Tight 11 personnel shows a true crossing route concept with a deep dagger post from the backside receiver, a shallow crosser breaking underneath from the same side, and a swing/flare route out of the backfield from the RB to the flat. The red route shows the TE running a drag across the middle at a shallow depth to sit underneath the crossers, giving the QB a layered read from deep to short. This is a man beater at its core since the crossing routes create natural picks and rubs against man defenders, though the layered depth also gives zone answers if the underneath windows sit open. Primary read progression starts with the deep post shot, works down to the intermediate crosser, then checks down to the RB in the flat if the pocket collapses or the defense drops into a deep shell.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a single high safety pre snap since that alignment tells you the deep post has a legitimate one on one shot down the field. If the defense shows two deep safeties, expect the post to be taken away and shift your focus to the shallow crosser and RB flare as your primary options. Man coverage with tight press corners is where this play shines the most because the crossing routes create natural traffic that disrupts defender leverage. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they sink hard into zone drops the shallow crosser may get squeezed, so be ready to check down quickly to the RB. Beware of user controlled defenders sitting in a lurk position over the middle since they can jump the shallow crosser route if the QB stares it down too long.
Usage Tips
Look for single high safety shells before the snap since the deep post route has a favorable one on one matchup against Cover 1 or Cover 3 rotations.
Use the crossing routes to naturally rub off man defenders, especially against Cover 0 or man blitz looks where the underneath crosser can break wide open.
Hot route the RB into a quicker flare or check him down early against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells where the deep post gets taken away by two high safeties.
Pair this play with Mesh or Tight Crosses in your play calling sequence so the defense has to respect both shallow crossing traffic and the deep shot, keeping linebackers honest on their drops.
Best used on second and medium or third and long situations where the deep post can be a chunk play but the underlying crosser and RB give you safe completion outlets.
