Playbooks
Pats Cross is a trips-based crossing concept out of Shotgun Y Off Trips Pats designed to attack man and zone coverage with horizontal stretch at multiple levels. The trips side runs a deep crosser and a shallow drag or in-cut to create natural traffic and rub off man defenders, while the backside receiver runs a dig or comeback to hold the single-side corner honest. The primary read starts with the deep crosser working across the field, then progresses to the underneath drag if the linebackers sink into the crosser's window, and finally to the backside route as a hot-read outlet against blitz or hard man press.
Watch for a single-high safety rotating late, which usually means man coverage underneath and opens up the deep crosser against trailing linebackers. If the slot corner or nickel defender jumps the shallow drag route pre-snap, that is a strong indicator of man coverage or a robber technique designed to sit on the crossers. Zone defenses that sink linebackers deep into the crossing lanes can take away the middle read, so be ready to check the backside dig or comeback as the zone-beater option. Look for a lurking Mike linebacker or spy who can undercut the shallow crosser, since user-controlled defenders sitting in that window will bait a quarterback into a costly interception. Against Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells with deep zone drops, the crossers can get squeezed by underneath defenders shuffling with the route, so patience on the throw and manipulating the linebacker with eyes is key to opening the window.
Check the pre-snap alignment of the trips-side linebackers and slot corner, since a walked-up nickel or robber look signals man coverage that the crossers can exploit with natural rub picks.
If the defense shows a two-high shell, prioritize the deep crosser working to the void behind the linebackers and in front of the safeties before checking down to the drag underneath.
Use the backside dig or comeback as your blitz-beater hot route, especially versus nano blitzes that bring extra pressure off the edge, since it gets the ball out fast against man coverage.
Pair this play with PA Pats Cross or Pats Drag Wheel in the same set to keep the defense guessing on similar formation looks while varying the shot potential and rollout angles.
Best called on second or third and medium since the crossing routes need time to develop and separate through traffic, so avoid using it in obvious quick-game short yardage situations.