Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mesh out of Singleback Y Trips lines up three receivers to one side with a crossing shallow concept underneath. The two inside receivers run mesh crossing routes at the same depth, one from the left X breaking right and one from the right slot breaking left, while the trips side attaches a corner route up top and a flat route from the bottom receiver. The backside X runs a deep post to hold the safety, and the running back releases into a wheel or arrow route out of the backfield off the same mesh crossing depth. This is a classic man beater since the natural pick action from the crossing routes rubs off man defenders, and the primary read progression starts with the two mesh crossers underneath before working to the flat and corner combo on the trips side.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense shows man coverage with corners lined up tight on the trips receivers, this is the green light to trust the mesh crossers. Watch for a single high safety versus two high shell, single high means the backside post has one on one leverage and can be a home run shot. Post-snap, key the flat defender on the trips side, if he widens with the flat route the crossers will have a soft spot to sit in against zone. Look for a user linebacker sitting in the mesh area or spying underneath, this is the biggest threat to the shallow crossers and can bait a quick check to the flat or corner route instead. Against zone heavy defenses like Cover 3 or Cover 4, the crossers can get caught in traffic, so be ready to progress quickly to the corner route or backfield wheel route as the zone beater outlet.
Usage Tips
Target man coverage first since the mesh crossers create natural traffic that rubs off linebackers and slot corners in man match schemes.
Check the flat defender pre-snap on the trips side, if he sits inside you have room to hit the shallow crosser wide open on the opposite hash.
Use motion or a hot route on the backside post to keep single high safeties honest, this forces them to choose between the deep threat and crashing down on the mesh.
Pair this play with Y Shallow Cross or Stick from the same set to keep defenders guessing on shallow crossing concepts without changing your formation tendencies.
Best called on second and medium to third and long where defenses often sit in man to man or trail technique, giving the mesh crossers room to separate.
