Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 15 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Crossers is a play-action pass out of Shotgun Trio Y-Flex that sends two outside receivers vertical up the numbers while the third receiver runs a deep crosser from the opposite side, working across the field into the same third as the far verticals. The tight end releases to the flat on the boundary, giving the quarterback a checkdown or man beater against defenders chasing across the formation. The play-action fake off the run threat holds linebackers and safeties for a beat, and the primary read progresses from the deep crosser working across the field to the vertical routes on the opposite side, with the flat route to the TE as the underneath outlet.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high safety alignment since that shell is the most vulnerable to the crosser sitting behind the linebacker level. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they bite hard on the play-action fake the crosser will be wide open in the intermediate zone. Key the flat defender on the tight end release, a passive zone defender there signals room for the checkdown against blitz pressure. Post-snap, look for a user controlled lurk defender sitting in the middle of the field, that is the biggest threat to the deep crosser and forces the quarterback to work the outside verticals instead. Against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with disciplined underneath zone drops, this play struggles since the crosser runs into traffic rather than open grass.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or second and medium when the defense has shown run tendencies, since the play-action fake needs linebackers to bite for the crosser to open up behind them.
Check for single high safety shells before the snap, the deep crosser sits perfectly in the void between the hash and the numbers against Cover 3 and Cover 1.
If you see man coverage with no safety help over the crosser, hot route the flat route to a quick out to speed up the timing against a blitz look.
Pair this with Inside Zone or RPO Alert Bubble in your play calling sequence so the defense respects the run fake and stays honest to the crosser.
Avoid calling this against Cover 2 shells with underneath zone droppers, since a user linebacker can sit on the crossing route and bait a turnover.
