Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
PA Draw Cross runs a play-action fake to hold the linebackers before releasing three receivers into a route combo built to attack man and zone coverage alike. The two yellow routes create a deep crosser and a shallow drag running opposite directions underneath, while the red route pushes vertically up the numbers to stretch the defense deep. The lone deep vertical route is the primary read off the play-action look, with the crossing routes underneath as the checkdown progression if the safety jumps the deep shot.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they crash hard on the run fake the crossing routes underneath will be wide open in the vacated middle. Identify single high safety shells pre-snap since the deep vertical route can win against Cover 3 or Cover 1 if the corner bites on the run action. Beware Cover 2 shells with safeties staying deep, as the vertical route will be capped and you should progress immediately to the crossers. User linebackers sitting in the shallow crossing lanes can jump the underneath routes, so track the user defender before committing to the drag. Blitz-heavy defenses that send extra rushers off the edge can beat this play before the fake fully develops, so know your blitz beater hot routes ahead of time.
Usage Tips
Sell the run fake by holding the ball fake button long enough to freeze linebackers before transitioning to your read.
Use this against teams that bite on run fakes on early downs, since the play-action carries more weight on 1st and 2nd down.
Check pre-snap for two deep safeties versus single high, if you see single high the deep vertical route has a better chance to win one on one outside.
Pair this play with HB Draw and HB Dive earlier in a series so the defense starts keying run action, which makes the PA fake off Draw Cross far more effective.
If the corner covering the deep route presses hard at the line, hot route the crosser to sit down against zone drops instead of running through the traffic.
