Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA TE Cross runs off a play-action fake out of Strong I with 22 personnel, selling the run look before the quarterback rolls to pass. The tight end runs the deep crossing route from the strong side, working all the way across the field over the middle, while the two outside receivers stretch the defense vertically with deep routes up the numbers and a deep out breaking to the sideline. The backside receiver runs a shallow drag underneath, giving a built-in checkdown against a hard sell on the run fake. This is a play-action man beater designed to exploit linebackers who bite on the run fake, with the primary read progression starting on the TE cross as he clears the middle of the field, then working outside to the deep out route, and finally checking down to the underneath drag if both are covered.
Defensive Reads
Watch the linebacker depth at the snap, if they step up hard on the run fake instead of sinking, the TE cross will have a clean lane through the middle Identify man coverage by checking if a linebacker or slot defender mirrors the TE presnap, since this play is built to win against man matchups with the crossing route creating natural separation Look for a user-controlled defender sitting in a lurk spot in the shallow middle, as that player can jump the TE cross route and blow up the primary read Against zone coverage, especially Cover 3 or Cover 4, the deep out and vertical routes on the strong side can be squeezed by a sinking cornerback and safety, so the drag underneath becomes the higher value target If the defense brings a blitz off the edge, the quarterback needs a fast rollout read since the play-action fake slows down the initial drop and extends exposure to pressure
Usage Tips
Run this out of a normal run down look, third and short or first and ten, so linebackers respect the play-action fake and bite forward before the TE crosses their face
Check the middle of the field pre-snap for single high versus two high safeties, since single high tells you the deep crosser has a bigger throwing window against man coverage underneath
If the defense shows Cover 3 or zone match, hot route the backside drag into a deeper dig or switch the outside receiver to a shorter comeback to find the void behind the linebackers
Pair this with Power O and PA Power O from the same set so the run action from those plays sets up the exact same linebacker triggers that make the TE cross so dangerous
Use PA TE Cross on early downs after establishing HB Sweep or HB Blunt Dive so defenders key run fits instead of dropping into coverage, then hit the crosser in stride for YAC
