Playbooks

Short Cross

Shotgun·Trey Open HB Str·11

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 3 playbooks

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffenseBills OffenseOffenseNFL Live Bills OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Short Cross out of Shotgun Trey Open HB Str is a quick-hitting man beater built around a crossing route concept designed to create natural rubs and separation against man coverage. The shallow crosser works from one side of the field to the other underneath, while the backside routes hold linebackers and safeties to prevent them from sinking under the crosser. Your primary read starts with the shallow cross, working front to back through the underneath zone, then progressing to the intermediate route on the backside if the crosser gets picked up in man coverage or a robber sits underneath.

Defensive Reads

Identify pre-snap whether the corners are aligned in man press or off man, since press coverage on the crosser side can disrupt the timing of the route. Watch for a single high safety shell, which signals Cover 1 or Cover 3 and tells you the crosser will likely have room to work against man defenders. Post-snap, key the middle linebacker's drop, if he sinks into the shallow crossing lane as a lurk defender he can jump the route and bait a turnover. Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells with two deep safeties tend to clog the crossing lane with underneath zone defenders, so be ready to check to the backside route instead. Look for a user-controlled defender spying the crosser or shadowing across the field, this indicates a manual jump attempt on the route and means you should hold the ball an extra beat to let the crosser clear.

Usage Tips

Attack man coverage with this play since the crossing route naturally creates traffic and separation against man defenders trailing across the field.

Check the middle of the field pre-snap for a single high safety, since Short Cross thrives against Cover 1 and Cover 3 where the crosser can run away from man defenders into open grass.

Use the crosser as a hot route outlet against the blitz by getting the ball out quickly before pressure arrives, this play is a great answer to disguised pressure looks.

Pair this play with Shock Y Cross or H Mtn Mesh in your play-calling sequence so the defense has to guess between multiple crossing concepts from the same formation.

Ideal on second and medium to third and short since the shallow crosser can pick up yards in space and get you to the sticks without needing a deep shot.

Other Plays in Trey Open HB Str