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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Pats Cross is a trips-based man beater out of Shotgun Y Off Trips Close that floods the field with dual crossing routes. From the trips side, the two inside receivers run deep in-breaking crossers, one shallow crosser sitting under a deeper corner-breaking route that turns upfield after clearing traffic, while the third trips receiver runs a shallow drag underneath heading away from the formation. The backside single receiver runs a corner route stemming vertical then breaking to the sideline, and the RB releases out of the backfield on a wheel route up the sideline for a homerun shot against man coverage. The primary read starts with the deep crosser working across the middle, then progresses to the wheel route if the defense sinks its underneath coverage, with the shallow drag as the checkdown against pressure.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a single high safety pre-snap, which indicates man coverage underneath and opens up the crossing routes since defenders in man will have to fight through traffic. If the defense shows two deep safeties in a shell, expect zone coverage where the crossers may run into underneath zone defenders sitting in the middle of the field. Key on the weak side linebacker or nickel defender assigned to the running back, since a slow reaction to the wheel route can lead to a big play if he stays flat footed reading run. Post-snap, identify if a user-controlled defender is lurking in the shallow drag or crosser lanes, since a smart human defender can jump the underneath routes and bait a turnover. Look for blitz packages that overload the trips side, since this can disrupt the timing of the crossers and force the quarterback to check down early to the drag route or bail to the wheel.
Usage Tips
Look for man coverage indicators pre-snap such as cornerbacks lined up tight on the trips receivers, since the crossing routes create natural picks that are difficult for man defenders to fight through.
Motion or shift the trips formation slightly if you suspect a blitz to help identify if the defense is playing man or zone before the snap.
Use the RB wheel route as a home run shot against linebackers who bite on the crossers or against man coverage that fails to pass off the running back out of the backfield.
Pair this play with PA Pats Cross earlier in a drive to sell the same crossing action off play action once the defense starts jumping the underneath drag route.
On third and long, prioritize the deep crosser and wheel route combo since both routes threaten downfield, but on shorter yardage rely on the shallow drag as a quick answer against soft zone drops.
