Playbooks
PA Y Cross is a play-action shot play out of Shotgun Wide Y Off Trips that uses the trips side to sell run action before releasing the Y (tight end) on a deep crossing route from the backside. The trips receivers work a clear out or vertical stem to occupy the deep defenders while the Y crosses the field underneath, giving you a big chunk play against overaggressive linebackers and single high shells. Primary read progression starts with the Y cross coming across the middle of the field, then works to the trips side isolation route if the crosser is taken away, and finally checks down to the running back on the play-action fake for a safety valve.
Pre snap, identify single high versus two high safety alignment, single high is the green light for the Y cross Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they step up hard on the play fake the middle of the field opens for the crosser Post snap, look for a user controlled lurk defender sitting in the shallow to intermediate middle zone, this is the biggest threat to the route Zone coverages like Tampa 2 and Cover 3 sink a linebacker or safety into the crossing lane, forcing you to progress to the trips side route Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets beat easily since the Y cross creates natural separation off the pick action from trips Blitz heavy fronts with man coverage behind them are vulnerable since the play action fake slows down interior rush lanes
Use this on early downs or second and medium when defenses are keying run action off your HB Power G tendencies in this set
Check the middle of the field pre snap, if you see a single high safety the Y cross window opens up big against linebackers who bite on the play fake
Hot route the trips receivers into a hitch or comeback if you are facing zone shells that sink underneath the crosser
Pair this with HB Power G earlier in a series so the play action fake actually holds linebackers, then hit them with PA Y Cross once they start crashing downhill
Avoid throwing into the crosser against Tampa 2 or 2 Man under, since the middle linebacker or safety sitting in that lurk window can jump the route
Use play action rollout awareness, if the pocket collapses fast bail to the checkdown instead of forcing the crosser