Playbooks
PA Pats Cross is a play-action pass out of the Shotgun Y Off Trips Pats set that uses the run fake to hold linebackers while a deep crosser works the middle of the field from the trips side. The backside receiver runs a dig or in-cut that settles into the void behind underneath zone defenders, giving you a natural progression from the crosser to the backside breaking route. This is primarily a man beater since the crosser creates natural separation against man coverage by running across the defender's face, but it also has zone beater value versus teams that drop into a soft zone shell since the crosser can find grass between levels. The primary read starts with the crossing route working from the trips side, then progresses to the backside dig or in route if the crosser is taken away by a trailing defender or a underneath linebacker sitting on the throw.
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing man or zone based on cornerback alignment, tight press man on the trips receivers signals a favorable matchup for the crosser to separate. Watch for a single high safety shell, this often means the defense is selling out to stop the run or blitzing, which plays right into the play-action design and opens throwing lanes over the middle. Post-snap, key any user-controlled defender who abandons a run fill assignment to chase the crosser, that lurk defender can jump the route and undercut the throw if you do not manipulate him with your eyes first. Beware of Cover 3 sink or Cover 4 match shells with linebackers sitting at intermediate depth, they can rob the crosser and force you to hold the ball longer than you want on a play-action drop. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge are risky against this concept because the play-action fake slows down your offensive line's ability to pick up free rushers, so get the ball out quickly if you diagnose pressure before the snap.
Use this play on early downs like first or second and medium when defenses are more willing to bite on the play-action fake and commit linebackers downhill.
Check the safety alignment before the snap, if you see two high safeties the play-action fake will not fully manipulate the middle of the field but the crosser still has room to work against man coverage underneath.
Hot route the backside receiver into a speed out or quick option if you are facing a hard blitz look, this gives you a faster answer than waiting on the crosser to develop.
Pair this play with Pats Drag Wheel or Wheel Mesh from the same set so opposing defenders start keying the crosser too aggressively and get burned by wheel and vertical concepts later in the game.
Run this after establishing HB Power or Inside Zone earlier in the drive so linebackers are more susceptible to the play-action fake and bite on the run action, opening up the crosser even more.