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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Slot TE Cross out of Weak I (Slot Flex, 21 personnel) sends the slot TE on a shallow cross underneath while the backside outside receiver runs a deep dig/square-in that settles on the opposite hash. The outside WR to the play side clears vertically on a go route to take the top off and pull coverage deep, and the FB checks release into the flat as a blitz valve. This is a man beater built to create natural rub traffic between the crosser and the dig, with the primary read progression starting on the shallow cross underneath, working to the deep in-breaking route, and checking down to the FB in the flat if both are covered.
Defensive Reads
Key the slot TE at the snap, if he is being trailed man to man by a linebacker or safety this play is designed to win that matchup with the crossing route. Watch the deep safety shell before the snap, a single high safety indicates man coverage underneath and tells you the crosser and dig combo should be open in sequence. Post-snap, track any user-controlled defender lurking in the shallow crossing lane since that is the first read and a smart user will sit on that route. Against zone coverage, look for the hook or curl defender to carry the dig route, if he stays flat-footed on the crosser you can hit the dig behind him. Cover 2 with aggressive corners squatting on flat routes can jump the FB checkdown, so only throw that route late if the boundary corner has bailed deep.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion on the slot TE to confirm man coverage before the snap, if the defender follows across the formation you know you have a man beater lined up.
Look for single-high safety shells since the vertical go route occupies deep defenders and opens up the intermediate crossing routes underneath.
Hot route the FB to a quick flat release if you see overload blitz pressure from the boundary side, this gives you a built-in answer against nano blitzes.
Best called on second and medium to second and long where the crosser and dig combo can move the sticks without needing an explosive play.
Pair this with HB Slip Screen and Slants from the same set to keep defenders honest, once they start crashing down on the run action or jumping the quick crosser, this play punishes overaggressive linebackers with the deep dig behind them.
