Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Cross is a play-action shot play out of Shotgun Wing HB Wk Close that sells the run fake before attacking the deep middle and boundary. The backside receiver runs a deep crossing route that travels all the way across the field, the outside receiver on the play side runs a corner/flag route up the sideline, and the tight end or slot runs a shallow drag/out breaking to the flat. The primary read progression starts with the deep crosser working from backside to frontside (which stresses zone defenders who bite on the run fake), then the play-side corner route as the second read against man coverage, and the flat route as the checkdown or hot route beater against blitzes.
Defensive Reads
Read the middle linebacker depth and flow at the snap, if he bites hard on the play-action fake the crosser will separate cleanly in the void behind him. Identify single high versus two high safety shells before the snap, single high defenses are more vulnerable to the deep cross since there is less help crossing the field. Watch for a user-controlled defender sitting in the shallow flat or crossing lane, this lurk threat is designed to jump the drag route and the crosser, so be ready to move to the corner route instead. Against man coverage look for the corner route to win against a cornerback playing outside leverage, since the route breaks away from his positioning toward the sideline. Recognize edge blitz pressure post-snap and get the ball out to the flat route quickly, since the play-action fake slows down your protection and extended blitzes will collapse the pocket before deeper routes develop.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or second and medium when defenses are still respecting the run out of this Wing HB personnel look.
Check the safety alignment before the snap, if you see two high safeties sitting deep the crosser will have room to work underneath them, if it is one high expect the crosser to be more contested but the corner route on the opposite side should open up.
Hot route the flat route to a quick out or speed out against teams that bring linebacker blitzes off the edge, this gives you a fast answer before the play-action fake fully develops.
Pair this with HB Base or Outside Zone earlier in a series so defenders start keying run fits, then come back to PA Cross once linebackers start creeping up.
Combine with PA Y Over in the same set to give defenses two different play-action crossing concepts that look identical pre-snap but attack different levels of the field.
Take the deep shot on the crosser when you diagnose zone coverage, but be ready to climb the pocket and check down to the flat route if the pass rush disrupts the timing of the play-action fake.
