Double Crossers Concept

How NFL teams are using deep crossing routes to attack 1-High safety structures.

While looking at passing trends in the NFL, Double Cross is a concept that kept showing up on film across the league. It is another great concept that works well as a play-action and drop-back concept. Teams tagged many combinations to dress this concept up, and I will dive deeper into the most popular variations.

The play is designed to attack 1-high safeties, especially Cover 1. (Cover 1 is man coverage underneath with 1 high safety free.) Often, defensive backs will use outside leverage in Cover 1, knowing they have help from the linebackers on quick inside routes, and help deep with the free safety playing the middle of the field. They want to funnel these receivers into the help.

The primary routes of Double Cross are 2 deep drags or crossing routes coming from opposite sides.

The two crossers take advantage of the defensive back’s leverage. Also, the Free Safety is in a bind, with two routes threatening him.

Paid Subscribers get 7 Double Cross variations + All 22 and EZ Cut-ups.