Playbooks

Trips Cross

Shotgun·Trips HB Wk·10
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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 4 playbooks

Sim Explosivestress Ba OffenseOffenseSim Explosivestress Ph OffenseOffenseSim Explosivestress Rn OffenseOffenseSpread Classic

Breakdown

Trips Cross is a man beater out of Shotgun Trips HB Wk that uses a crossing route concept from the trips side to create natural rubs and separation against man coverage. The trips receivers run a combination of crossing routes at different depths while the backside receiver works a dig or in-breaker to occupy the middle of the field, with the HB releasing into the flat as a checkdown or screen outlet. Primary progression starts with the deepest crossing route working away from the trips bunch, then works down to the shallow crosser, and finally checks down to the HB out of the backfield if the underneath defenders sit on the crossers.

Defensive Reads

Check the strong safety depth and alignment before the snap, since a safety cheating toward the trips side signals a possible robber or Cover 3 buzz look designed to jump the crossing routes Watch the linebacker depth at the snap, if they sink hard on the crossers this beats man coverage better than zone, so be ready to check down to the HB in the flat against disciplined zone linebackers User controlled defenders sitting in a lurk spot in the middle of the field can undercut the shallow crosser, so double check for a spy or rat defender before committing to that route in the progression Cover 2 with aggressive corners jumping underneath routes can disrupt the timing of the crossers, look to attack the deep half seam instead if you see two deep safeties Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge remove coverage from the crossing routes but shorten your window, so get the ball out on time to the first open crosser rather than holding for the deeper route

Usage Tips

Look for man coverage indicators pre-snap such as corners lined up in press or shaded outside since the crossing routes create natural traffic that man defenders struggle to fight through

Motion the HB or use a jet motion check if available to identify man versus zone before the snap based on whether a defender follows across the formation

Hot route the backside receiver into a deeper dig if you see a single high safety shell, since that gives you a window behind underneath zone defenders in Cover 3

Pair this play with Mesh Spot or Inside Cross earlier in a drive so linebackers start cheating toward crossing concepts, then hit them with Four Verticals or Zona Fade to counter their over pursuit

Best used on second and medium to second and long where the defense is more likely to play zone match or man under looks, giving the crossers time to develop separation

Other Plays in Trips HB Wk