Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Orbit PA Cross is a play-action pass out of the Shotgun Y Off Trio Wk set with 11 personnel that uses orbit motion across the formation before the play-action fake to sell run and hold the linebackers. Post snap, the diagram shows a deep crosser working from the right side all the way across the field underneath a corner route breaking to the sideline, while a dig route from the left sits down in the middle of the field and a shallow drag underneath crosses the opposite direction to clear space. This is a man beater built to create natural picks and rubs from the crossing routes, with the primary read progression starting on the deep crosser working left to right, then the dig route sitting down over the middle if the crosser is taken away, and the shallow drag as the checkdown against a blitz.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth, if both safeties sit deep at 10-plus yards you are likely seeing Cover 2 or Cover 4, which allows the dig to sit down in the void between the linebackers and safeties. Watch the flat defender and slot cornerback on the crosser side, in man coverage they will trail the receiver across the field and get picked off by the dig route, giving up an easy completion. Key the middle linebacker after the play-action fake, if he bites hard on the run fake the deep crosser will have a wide open throwing lane behind him. Against Cover 3, user the flat defender to squat on the shallow drag and force the quarterback to hold the ball longer, this disrupts the timing on the crosser. Watch for a slot blitz off the play-action motion side, if the defense brings pressure from that alignment the quarterback must get rid of the ball quickly to the shallow drag or dig route as a hot read.
Usage Tips
Use the orbit motion pre-snap to identify man versus zone, if the motion defender runs with the receiver across the formation you know you are getting man coverage and the crossers will win.
Take your first read to the deep crosser working across the field, this route beats man coverage on the natural rub created by the dig route sitting underneath it.
If the safety shell shows two high, look to the dig sitting down in the soft spot of the zone as your first read instead of forcing the crosser into a defender sitting in the throwing lane.
Use this play on early downs or third and medium when you have identified man coverage or Cover 3 tendencies from your opponent, since the deep crosser needs time to develop.
Pair this play with Slot Cross and Double Drags from the same set to keep the defense guessing on crossing concepts, then mix in HB Slip Screen or Orbit RPO Buck Swing to punish defenders who key on the play-action fake.
