Playbooks
Depth-chart slots are shown as they line up in the base package for this set.
| Player | Side | Route |
|---|---|---|
| HB1 | Left | Pass Block |
| TE2 | Right | Deep Cross |
| WR1 | Left | Corner |
| WR2 | Left | Out |
| TE1 | Right | Deep In |
Cross Corner Strike is a man beater out of Shotgun Wing Slot Offset WK that pairs a deep corner route with a crossing route working underneath to attack both zone leverage and man coverage at the same time. The corner route occupies the deep quarter or third while the crosser sits down in the void created by the safety rotating over the top, giving you a natural high low against Cover 3 and Cover 1 defenders trying to stay over the top of the corner. Your primary read starts with the corner route on any single high shell, then works down to the crosser if the safety jumps the deep route, with the backside dig or in route serving as your third read against Cover 4 and Cover 2 looks.
Watch the free safety depth and width pre snap, if he is shaded to the corner side in a one high look he can jump the route so be ready to check to the crosser immediately. Post snap, track the flow of the linebackers underneath, if you see them sink hard into the intermediate zone against Cover 3 that confirms the crosser will be sitting in a soft spot for an easy completion. Man coverage with a single high safety is where this play shines the most since the corner route wins on defenders without deep help and the crosser creates natural rub leverage against trailing defenders. Cover 4 quarters shells with disciplined corners will squeeze the corner route hard, so key the flat defender and slot corner depth, if they stay high and outside you need to work the dig or in route on your third read. Be wary of user controlled lurk defenders sitting in the intermediate crossing lane, a smart user player will bait the crosser throw and jump the window, so pump fake or manipulate with your eyes before committing to that read.
Check the safety alignment before the snap because a two high shell tells you to lean on the crosser and dig combo instead of forcing the corner route into a deep half defender who has help. Use motion if available to identify man versus zone, if the defender follows across the formation you know you have a man beater matchup on the crosser. Hot route the underneath route from the TE in 12 personnel into a shallow drag if you are facing heavy zone drop linebackers, this gives you a faster outlet against Tampa 2 or Cover 3 sink. This play works best on second and long or third and medium to long since the corner route needs time to develop and the crosser needs a defined window. Pair this call with PA Dagger or Mtn PA Cross earlier in a drive so the corner route timing looks identical to your play action shots, then hit Cross Corner Strike from standard shotgun to keep linebackers and safeties guessing on run fits versus pass drops.