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Bounce Shallow Cross

Shotgun·Trips TE Offset Wk·11

Quick Reference

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Breakdown

Bounce Shallow Cross is a hybrid run-pass concept out of the Trips TE Offset Wk set that combines a bounce-designed inside zone run with a shallow crossing route package for the pass option. The shallow cross underneath, paired with a deeper crossing route from the trips side, gives you a built-in zone beater against Cover 3 and Cover 4 while the shallow drag also works as a man beater versus man coverage with a natural rub. Your primary read starts with the run fit at the second level, but if you kick to pass, progress from the shallow crosser working underneath linebackers to the deeper crosser as your secondary window.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify safety depth, a single high safety usually signals Cover 3 or Cover 1, which opens the shallow cross underneath the deep zone drop. Watch linebacker depth and alignment, stacked or blitzing linebackers weaken the run fit and make the bounce lane the higher value read. Post-snap, track any user-controlled defender flowing to the shallow cross, if he commits early, work the deeper crossing route on the trips side instead. This play struggles against a hard Cover 2 shell with squatting corners, since the underdneath flat defenders can sit on the shallow route and clog the crossing lane. Man coverage with an inside linebacker spying the run tends to shut down the bounce lane, so be ready to convert immediately to the shallow cross as your outlet.

Usage Tips

Check the box count before the snap, if the defense is light in the box, take the bounce run and let your blocking scheme work to the edge.

Against man coverage, key the shallow cross for a natural rub against the trips bunch, this creates easy separation versus man match or Cover 1.

Use hot routes to convert the shallow drag into a speed out if you see aggressive underneath zone drops sitting on the crossing route.

Pair this play with Bounce Read Option or Bounce Inside Zone earlier in a series to condition the defense to bite on run fits, then come back to Bounce Shallow Cross to hit the crosser behind flowing linebackers.

Best called on second and short or third and short, since the run action holds linebackers just long enough for the shallow cross to clear the box.

Other Plays in Trips TE Offset Wk