Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Double Cross out of the Shotgun Wing Slot Offset 12 personnel set features two crossing routes underneath (the yellow and red X's) that sit down or cross the middle of the field just past the line to gain, while the outside receiver runs a deep comeback down the sideline and the backside slot releases vertically up the numbers. The route combo is built to stress man coverage by creating natural rubs and pick opportunities as the crossers work through traffic, while the vertical clear-out on the backside occupies the deep safety. Primary read progression starts with the shallow crosser working left to right underneath, then climbs to the intermediate crosser sitting down over the middle, and finally works to the deep comeback route on the boundary if the crossers are covered.
Defensive Reads
Look for a single high safety pre-snap, this often signals man coverage underneath which the crossing routes are designed to exploit through natural picks. If you see two deep safeties splitting the field evenly, the defense is likely in a zone shell and the crossers should settle into open zone windows rather than trying to outrun defenders. Watch the flow of the middle linebacker at the snap, if he sprints hard to the crossing routes' side he is likely in man or a heavy zone drop that will jump the underground routes. Cover 3 with a hard sitting cornerback on the boundary can shut down the deep comeback route, so be ready to check down to the crossers immediately. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge opposite the crossers create a hot read to the shallow crosser since the quarterback has less time to climb the progression to the comeback route.
Usage Tips
Use this play on 2nd and medium to 3rd and short situations where the underneath crossers have room to sit down in soft spots against zone or win separation against man. Check the pre-snap alignment of the linebackers, if they are shaded tight to the box the crossers will have an easier time working through the traffic underneath. Hot route the backside vertical receiver into a shorter option like a slant if you see two deep safeties rotating to take away the comeback route. Pair this play with Mesh Spot or Double Stick earlier in a series so the defense respects shallow crossing traffic and starts jumping underneath routes, then hit the deep comeback for a big gain when they overplay the crossers. Motion the wing tight end pre-snap to identify man versus zone based on whether a defender follows across the formation.
