Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Y Shallow Cross lines up out of Singleback Y Off Trio with 11 personnel, showing a trips-like look with a backfield check release. The shallow crosser drags flat across the field underneath the line, a deep crosser from the opposite side climbs up into the void vacated by the shallow, and the outside receiver on the trips side runs a corner route while the flanker on that side works an out breaking flat route underneath it, with the running back sliding to the checkdown out of the backfield. This is a man beater built on natural rub picks from the shallow and deep crosser combo, and the primary read progression starts with the shallow drag working sideline to sideline, then bumps to the deep crosser sitting down against zone, before working to the corner and flat combo on the trips side if the middle is clogged.
Defensive Reads
Key on the middle linebacker and slot defender at the snap, since if they run with the shallow crosser man to man you have a rub pick set up by the crossing routes. Watch for a robber or lurk defender sitting in the intermediate middle zone, since that defender can jump the deep crosser route right as it sits down. Check safety depth pre-snap, since two high shells with corners playing outside leverage will squeeze the corner route on the trips side and force you to live underneath. Identify blitz packages by reading the box count, since if the defense brings extra rushers the shallow crosser and running back checkdown become your quick answers against pressure. If linebackers are sitting flat footed in short zones, expect the shallow drag to get clogged, in that case work the deep crosser sitting behind them or bail out to the corner route on the trips side.
Usage Tips
Use this against man coverage since the shallow crosser drag creates natural traffic picks against linebackers and slot corners trying to trail across the formation.
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing single high or two high safeties, since the deep crosser sitting down behind linebackers works best against single high man or Tampa 2 style zones.
Hot route the running back to a check release or full flat route if you anticipate a blitz, since he is your outlet valve against pressure looks.
Pair this with Curl Flat or Slants from the same set to keep the defense guessing between shallow drag concepts and quicker breaking routes without changing your formation tendencies.
Best used on second and medium to second and long, since the shallow crosser and deep crosser combo needs time to develop and clear the underneath zone defenders.
