Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Z Cross is a trips-side dropback pass out of Shotgun Trips TE that stresses the field horizontally with three levels of routes. The two inside trips receivers run a corner route and a deep crossing route that stretches from the numbers all the way across the field, while the outside receiver on the same side runs a corner from a shorter stem to occupy the deep third. The single receiver on the backside runs a quick out to hold the corner, and the RB releases on a shallow flare/swing route out of the backfield for a checkdown against blitz. This is a man beater built around the deep cross creating natural separation against man leverage, with the primary read starting on the deep crosser working from the trips side before checking down to the flare route if the crosser is taken away.
Defensive Reads
Identify the slot corner or nickel defender's depth at the snap, if he presses the inside trips receiver he is likely playing man and the crosser is live. Watch the middle linebacker's initial drop, if he sinks with the crosser instead of widening it signals zone coverage and the throwing window will be tighter. Key the backside cornerback on the single receiver, a soft cushion pre-snap suggests a Cover 3 or Cover 4 shell where the quick out is easy but the deep cross will have a safety waiting. Watch for a user-controlled defender flashing down into the shallow crossing lane, since a lurking linebacker or safety sitting on the crosser is the biggest threat to this concept and forces an early checkdown to the RB flare. Recognize blitz looks with only two deep safeties and no underneath help, this play's crosser and flare combo gives the quarterback a built-in answer against pressure by getting the ball out quickly before the rush arrives.
Usage Tips
Use this on second and long or third and long when you need a defense to declare man coverage so the deep crosser can win against trailing defenders.
Check the pre-snap alignment of the slot corner over the trips side, if he is lined up tight with no safety help over the top the crosser will have a big window as it crosses the field.
Hot route the backside receiver into a deeper comeback or dig if you see the defense rolling a safety to that side, since the quick out is easily jumped by aggressive corners playing press.
Pair this play with a quick game concept like Slants or Slot Quick Flat earlier in a series so the defense respects the short game, then hit them with Z Cross once linebackers start sitting on shallow routes.
Against zone shells, work the crosser into the void behind underneath linebackers and in front of deep safeties rather than trying to sit it down, since sitting invites a jumped route from a zone defender reading the quarterback's eyes.
