Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Close PA Cross is a play-action pass out of Singleback Wing 12 personnel that sells run action to the backfield before working a deep crosser combo. The backside X runs a vertical release that breaks into a deep corner/post angle, while both the TE and slot run in-breaking crossers at two levels, one shallow crosser sitting underneath and one deep crosser working across the field. The blocking scheme holds the play-action fake at the line with the OL and TE staying in to protect, and the primary read progression starts with the deep crosser working from the play side across the field, then works down to the underneath crosser as a shorter option, using the vertical route on the backside as a window shot if the safety bites on the crossing routes.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high versus two high safety shells since single high defenses are more vulnerable to the deep crosser sitting behind the linebackers. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they step up hard on the play-action fake it opens the crossing lane immediately for both the shallow and deep crossers. Man coverage defenses that like to trail crossers get beat by the natural picks created between the two crossing routes, so look for a defender getting hung up on traffic. Cover 3 with an aggressive flat defender can undercut the underneath crosser, so check if the corner or slot defender is sinking into that lane before throwing the shallow option. Zone blitzes that bring extra rushers off the edge shut this down quickly since the play-action protection needs time, so watch for overloaded pressure looks pre-snap and consider checking to a quicker route if you see it.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs like first or second and short to mid distance so the run action holds linebackers and safeties honest.
Check the safety alignment before the snap: if you see two high safeties sitting deep, the deep crosser will have room to work into the void vacated by the underneath defenders biting on the play fake.
Hot route the underneath crosser into a shallow drag if you see man coverage across the board, since it creates natural rub traffic against man defenders trying to trail across the formation.
Pair this call with HB Dive or HB Blunt Dive earlier in a series so the linebackers start keying run fits, then hit them with Close PA Cross once they start crashing downhill.
Watch the play clock and snap quickly against blitz-heavy defenses since the play-action fake needs enough protection time for the deep crosser to clear the linebacker level.
