Playbooks
Depth-chart slots are shown as they line up in the base package for this set.
| Player | Side | Route |
|---|---|---|
| HB1 | Left | Flat |
| FB1 | Right | Wheel |
| WR1 | Left | Flat |
| WR2 | Right | Post |
| WR3 | Right | Drag |
Y Shallow Cross out of the Pro Slot Split Backs 20 personnel set is a man beater built around a shallow crossing route from the Y receiver that stretches the field horizontally underneath. The concept pairs the shallow drag with a deeper crosser or dig from the opposite side, creating a natural pick or rub against man coverage while giving zone defenders conflicting horizontal and vertical stress. With two backs in the backfield for max protection or check release options, the primary read progression starts with the shallow drag underneath, then works to the deeper crossing route or dig behind it, and finally to any checkdown out of the backfield if both crossers are covered.
Check the middle of field alignment pre-snap since a single high safety signals Cover 1 or Cover 3, both of which are vulnerable to the natural rub created by the shallow cross. Watch for a linebacker or nickel defender sitting in the shallow zone as this indicates a zone drop that can jump the underneath drag route, so be ready to progress to the deeper crosser. Identify a user-controlled defender lurking in the shallow middle since this is the primary counter to this concept and will bait quarterbacks into a costly turnover. Look for Cover 2 shells with two deep safeties since the shallow cross loses its explosive potential against this shell, requiring a checkdown to the backfield instead of forcing the crosser. Recognize blitz packages that send extra rushers since the two-back protection in this personnel group is designed to hold up against four and five man pressure, giving the quarterback time to work the crossing routes.
Use pre-snap motion with one of the two backs to identify man versus zone before the snap since a defender following the motion man confirms man coverage.
Attack Cover 1 and Cover 3 with this play since the shallow cross creates natural traffic against man defenders trailing across the field.
Hot route the backside receiver into a deeper corner or streak against Cover 3 to hold the deep third defender and open up the crossing routes underneath.
Pair this play with Mesh in your play-calling sequence since both attack man coverage with crossing traffic, forcing the defense to guess between two similar looks.
On third and medium situations, take the deeper crossing route first since it settles into the void behind linebackers and in front of safeties for a reliable move-the-chains gain.