Playbooks
Trips Cross is a man beater built out of the Shotgun Wide Trips HB WK set that attacks the middle of the field with a deep crosser working from the trips side all the way across the formation. The HB releases into a check release or flat route to hold linebackers while the backside receiver runs a dig or in cut to sit underneath the crosser, creating natural traffic against man defenders. Protection is a standard five man slide, and the primary read progression starts with the deep cross working against the opposite hash safety, then works down to the underneath in route and finally to the HB check down if the middle gets clogged.
Identify single high safety alignment pre-snap, since Cover 1 and Cover 3 with man principles are the primary coverages this play is designed to beat. Watch the middle linebacker depth at the snap, if he sits shallow and flows with the crosser it signals man coverage and the window will be tighter than expected. Key the slot cornerback's press or off alignment before the snap, tight press man coverage on the trips receivers is a strong indicator this play will hit. Beware of Cover 2 Man or a robber defender sitting in the middle of the field, since a user controlled lurker can jump the crossing route and turn it into a pick six. Against zone blitz or Cover 3 buzz looks, the underdneath zone defenders can sink and take away the crosser, so be ready to check down to the HB quickly if the middle gets crowded.
Look pre-snap for single high shells like Cover 1 or Cover 3, since the deep cross creates natural rub traffic against man defenders trying to trail across the field.
If you see Cover 2 or Cover 4 with two deep safeties, hot route the crosser into a shallow drag to shorten the throw and avoid the deep half defenders sitting on top.
Use motion or a quick glance at the slot corner alignment to identify man versus zone before the snap, tight press alignment usually means man coverage and a green light for the crosser.
Pair this play with HB Angle Screen or HB Slip Screen earlier in a series to bait linebackers into overplaying the run action, which opens up more room for the crosser on later downs.
Best used on second and medium or third and medium since the deep cross takes a few seconds to develop and needs a down and distance that allows a full route progression.