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Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Cross Flood is a Cover 3 beater built around a deep flood concept to one side paired with a crossing route working the opposite way to stress the middle linebacker and the flat defender. The flood side stacks three levels (deep, intermediate, flat) into one third of the field, forcing a single deep defender to choose while the crosser occupies the linebackers underneath. Primary progression starts with the deep flood route to see if the corner bails, then works down to the intermediate out or comeback, and finishes with the crosser as the checkdown against man coverage or a late-arriving zone hole.
Defensive Reads
A single high safety pre-snap signals Cover 3 or Cover 1, both of which the flood concept is designed to attack by overloading one deep third. Watch the flat defender at the snap, if he sinks with the deep route the underneath throw on the flood side opens immediately. Track the middle linebacker's drop, a slow or shallow drop leaves a throwing lane for the crosser against zone coverage. Two deep safeties presnap suggest Cover 2 or Cover 4, which can bracket the flood side and make the crosser the better real-time answer. User-controlled lurk defenders sitting in the shallow crossing lane are the biggest threat, if you see a defender spying that area throw off the deep flood read instead and let the safety help dictate the shot.
Usage Tips
Check the safety alignment before the snap, a single high safety confirms Cover 3 or Cover 1 and greenlights the flood side immediately.
Use the flood concept on third and medium to long since the three-level stress forces defenders to pick between the flat, intermediate, and deep routes.
Hot route the backside slot into a quick option or drag if you see man coverage across the board, giving yourself a rhythm throw versus blitz.
Pair this call with 60 Go or Four Verticals earlier in a series so the defense respects the deep shots, then come back to Cross Flood to attack the same shell with the crosser underneath.
If the user drops a linebacker into the crosser's lane, reset to the flood side and throw the comeback or corner route before the window closes.
