Slot Cross Clearout Concept

Concept:

The Slot Cross Clearout Concept is used to get the slot receiver open over the middle on crossing route. By having the two outside receivers on streaks, it is very effective against Cover 2 Man coverage.

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Offensive Played Used:

Default Pass Routes:

FL (B) - Post (we hot him on a fade or streak)
SE (X) - Corner Post ((we hot him on a fade or streak)
SL (A) - Cross
HB (Y) - Stop ( we like to hot route him on curl against zone or drag against man).
FB (LB) - Swing ( we like to leave into pass block against zone coverage. Against man coverage we may hot route him on a streak.

How the Concept Works on the Field:

The play we call is the Gun Split Slot Cross Weak Flood. This play works well against both man and zone coverage. Against Cover 1, the SE runs a corner post route and FL running post, they both will attack the safety playing the deep middle. There routes is designed to lift the safety , so that the SL can get open underneath on the crossing route. Against zone coverage, there is a flood of receivers on the left, who run different depths to expose the soft zones in the coverage.

For most of the rest of this write up, we hot route the SE and FL on streaks or fade routes.We do this to draw the safeties away from the SL running the crossing route against man coverage. Against zone coverage, we like to use the rocket catch when throwing deep to the SE or FL.

Vs Cover 1

Objective:

Against Cover 1, it's pretty easy to beat with this passing concept. The SL receiver runs a deep crossing route. By sending both the SE and FL on a streaks, the safety will be forced to drop back deep. This allows the SL to get open underneath on the crossing route.

Reads Vs Cover 1 Man:

1. SL (A) - If man coverage is called, he will always be the first receiver we look to throw to. With man coverage not being as strong on underneath pass routes, his pass route is usually there for the taken.
2. SE (X) - If the safety playing deep cheats towards the FL's side of the field, we like to throw the ball to the inside. A lot of times the SE will open.
3. FL (B) - If the safety playing deep cheats towards the SE's side of the field, we like to throw the ball to the inside. A lot of times the FL will be open.
4. HB (Y) - Although he will be open, he may or may not be able to pick up much up yardage after the catch. It depends on who is covering him. Against Cover 2 Man, we show how like to hot route him on a drag. That same route, works against Cover 1 as well.
5. FB (B) - Most FBs don't have the speed to be effective out of the backfield. If a fast player is packaged in at FB, then the swing route that he runs is actually effective. If our opponent likes to bring the blitz, we will leave the FB in to pass block for extra pass protection.

The defense comes out in the Nickel Normal ROLB Blitz. This defense has the FS playing the deep middle, while defenders are in man coverage. There is a five man pass rush. The pressure comes from the left side of the offensive line. Normally it's going to be the RE or ROLB getting the pressure on the QB.

In the screen shot above, notice how the FS turns goes towards the FL.

With the FS dropping back deep, the defender covering the slot has no chance. Notice he is a few yards behind the SL as we make the throw.

We make the catch and have room to run.

With the FS trying to run towards the FL, he has a lot of ground to cover. By throwing the ball hard inside ...

... there should be enough room to make the catch. To be honest, we rather throw to the open slot receiver than the FL, but we wanted to show you it can be done. Just keep in mind there is not much room for error when making this throw.

Alternate Patterns Vs Cover 1 Man

Reads Vs Cover 1 Man:

1. SL (A) - If man coverage is called, he will always be the first receiver we look to throw to. With man coverage not being as strong on underneath pass routes, his pass route is usually there for the taken.
2. FL (X) - If the FL is not hot routed on a streak, his post route can be just as effective when throwing the pass to the inside
3. SE (X) - If the safety playing deep cheats towards the SE's side of the field, we like to throw the ball to the inside. A lot of times the FL will be open.
4. HB (Y) - Although he will be open, he may or may not be able to pick up much up yardage after the catch. It depends on who is covering him. Against Cover 2 Man, we show how like to hot route him on a drag. That same route, works against Cover 1 as well.
5. FB (B) - Most FBs don't have the speed to be effective out of the backfield. If a fast player is packaged in at FB, then the swing route that he runs is actually effective. If our opponent likes to bring the blitz, we will leave the FB in to pass block for extra pass protection.

Once we see the FL break towards the post, we throw him a hard bullet pass.

We take control of the FL and make the catch between the FS and RCB.

Vs Cover 2 Man

Objective

We have two different versions of how we like to run this play. Both our primary goal against Cover 2 Man is to attack both safeties by hot routing the SE and FL on streaks to open up the crossing route by SL underneath.

Reads Vs Cover 2 Man:

1. SL (A) - If man coverage is called, he will always be the first receiver we look to throw to. With man coverage not being as strong on underneath pass routes, his pass route is usually there for the taken.
2. HB (Y) - Although he will be open, he may or may not be able to pick up much up yardage after the catch. It depends on who is covering him. Against Cover 2 Man, we show how like to hot route him on a drag. That same route, works against Cover 1 as well.
3. FB (B) - Most FBs don't have the speed to be effective out of the backfield. If a fast player is packages in at FB, then the swing route that he runs is actually effective. If like to use packages this is a good time to do so. If our opponent likes to bring the blitz, we will leave the FB in to pass block for extra pass protection.
4. FL (B) - Very hard to complete a streak or fade this year against Cover 2 Man. If you got great stick control, you may be rocket or mini-jet pack. There is a good chance of the SS knocking the ball loose or picking the pass off. If you are playing against a human with good stick stick on defense, watch out, he may pick off a few of your passes.
5. SE (X) - See FL comments about, because the same applies to the SE.

Last year a good majority of players like to run some type of Cover 2 Man coverage. The Nickel 2 Man Under has the FS and SS playing the deep halves of the field. There are five defenders in man coverage. All four defensive linemen rush the QB.

If the defensive linemen are able to get quick pressure on the QB, look for one of the running backs.

Notice the safeties are drop back to play over the top of the SE and FL.

This helps leave the SL receiver that much more open on the crossing route.

We make the catch on the run and have plenty of space to pick up YAC.

Alternate Patterns Vs Cover 2 Man

Reads Vs Cover 2 Man:

1. SL (A) - If man coverage is called, he will always be the first receiver we look to throw to. With man coverage not being as strong on underneath pass routes, his pass route is usually there for the taken.
2. HB (Y) - By hot routing the HB on a drag, he now runs flat route to the right. He will be open for bullet pass if for some reason the SL is covered. If you look real close at the passing concept above, you notice it's a three verts, to horizontal passing concept. This concept is also effective against Cover 2 zone because the FB running deep down the middle of the field. If a fast TE or HB were to line up there, it will something worth running if your opponent plays Cover 2 Zone.
3. FB (B) - The FB is not really an option to throw to, we hot route him on a streak to help the HB that much more open.
4. FL (B) - Very hard to complete a streak or fade this year against Cover 2 Man. If you got great stick control, you may be rocket or mini-jet pack. There is a good chance of the SS knocking the ball loose or picking the pass off. If you are playing against a human with good stick on defense, watch out, he may pick off a few of your passes.
5. SE (X) - See FL comments above, because the same applies to the SE.

The HB and FB will cross each other. Often this causes a switch or causes the defenders to run into each other.

In any even the HB is wide open in the flat for a bullet pass.

Once the catch is made, we take off up the field for positive yardage.

Vs Cover 2 Zone

Objective:

Against Cover 2 Zone, the slot receiver is not going to be open, or if he is, there is a very small passing window to throw to him. Instead we like to look to deep to the SE or FL on fades. If they are not open, we like to throw to our check down and that's the HB running a curl out of the backfield.

Reads Vs Cover 2 Zone:

1. FL (B) - We hot route the FL on a fade. If he is tall receiver, we like to go deep to him and use the rocket catch to make the grab.
2. SE (X) - If the SE is tall, we look for him on the fade route and try use the rocket catch. If he is not tall, we use the mini-jet pack to make the catch.
3. HB (Y) - The HB is our check down receiver if we don't feel we can hit the FL or SE deep. With the SL running the crossing route, he will keep the defenders from getting in front of him.
4. SL (A) - Very hard to complete a pass to him on the cross route. Just to many defenders. If you try to throw to him, you risk the passing being picked off.
5. FB (X) - We leave into pass block.

As crazy as it may sound Cover 2 Zone coverage is actually pretty effective this year. The safeties tend get in better position. The Nickel Normal Cover 2 Zone has safeties playing 2 Deep, while five defenders play zone coverage underneath. The RCB and LCB play the flats. There is four man pass rush. The defensive linemen will stunt to try and create pressure on the QB.

Notice there is not much of passing window to throw to the SL on the cross against this Cover 2 zone coverage. The defenders react really fast this year.

If we see Cover 2 Zone is called, we will look to go up top. If we only have one receiver that is tall, that is usually the side we look to go to first. In this case, it's the FL.

While the ball is up in the air, we take control of the FL and ...

... turn him back towards the back. As the ball is coming down, we press the jump button to make catch.

If we don't throw deep, we look for the HB underneath. The pass to the HB can be thrown while he running up the field after he curls back to the QB. In the screen shot, we throw to him as he curls back.

We make the catch for a 8 yard pick up.

Vs Cover 3

Objective:

We run Slot Cross Clearout Concept the same way we would against Cover 2 Zone. We look for the FL or SE deep on fades, but they are not are first reads. Instead we look for the HB on the curl. Keep in mind in most Cover 3 coverages there are not as many defenders dropping back in hook zones. So the SL running the crossing route will be generally be open at some point. It's just a matter where and when.

Reads Vs Cover 3 Zone:

1. HB (Y) - The HB is our check down receiver if we don't feel we can hit the FL or SE deep. With the SL running the crossing route, he will keep the defenders from getting in front of him.
2. SL (A) - If you spot the SL open, then throw him the ball. Like we already said he will be open against most Cover 3 coverages, but when and where is the question.
3. FL (B) - We hot route the FL on a fade. If he is tall receiver, we like to go deep to him and use the rocket catch to make the grab.
4. SE (X) - If the SE is tall, we look for him on the fade route and try use the rocket catch. If he is not tall, we use the mini-jet pack to make the catch.
5. FB (X) - We leave into pass block.

Nickel 3-3-5 Cover 3 does a great job at taking away plays where receivers run corner routes, but it leaves middle underneath open since only the MLB plays a hook zone. The NB and SS drop in buzz zones. That's why this defense is weak against passes over the short to middle of the field. Both ROLB and LOLB play the flats. The RCB, FS, and SS drop back in three deep pass coverage. Only 3 pass rushers rush the QB so there should be some time in the pocket.

In the screen shot above, both the SL and HB are open for quick bullet passes. Notice the ROLB and LOLB play the flats. This is why they are open.

The SL forces the MLB to cover him.

Leaving the HB wide open underneath.

After the SL gets a few yards away from the the middle of the field, the MLB will go cover the HB. This is one of times during the slot receiver's crossing route that he will be open.

We make the catch between NB and MLB for a first down and more.

If the HB or SL are not open, we look to go deep. We use the rocket catch to make the grab.

Vs Cover 4

Objective:

Of all the defenses we have shown so far to defend the Slot Cross Clearout Concept, none of them completely shuts it down. The only defensive coverage we found that even comes close to defending it is the Dollar Normal Cover 4. The best way to attack this coverage when running this play is to look for the HB.

Reads Vs Cover 4 Zone:

1. HB (Y) - The HB is our check down receiver if we don't feel we can hit the FL or SE deep. With the SL running the crossing route, he will keep the defenders from getting in front of him.
2. FL (B) - We hot route the FL on a fade. If he is a tall receiver, we like to go deep to him and use the rocket catch to make the grab.
3. SE (X) - If the SE is tall, we look for him on the fade route and try use the rocket catch. If he is not tall, we use the mini-jet pack to make the catch.
4. SL (A) - The SL may or not be open, it really depends on how many defenders are playing hook zones underneath. If there is only one, he will be open at some point. If two or more defenders are playing hook zones, it will be hard to complete a pass to him.
5. FB (X) - We leave into pass block.

The Dollar Normal Cover 4 is a strong bend don't but break pass defense. Very hard to complete anything over the top unless you have good stick control. Even then, it still can be a challenge if your opponent has stick control on defense. Four defenders drop back in deep coverage and cover 1/4ths of the field. The two linebackers drop back in hook zones, while the inside DBs play buzz zones.

Against Dollar Normal Cover 4, there is a good chance the HB is going to get bumped.

Once he breaks the jam, he will spot up and ...

... will be open for quick bullet pass.

We make the catch and have a little room to pick up extra yardage.

If got stick, you can go up deep to the FL or SE. Be sure to manually make the catch though.

Alternate Patterns Vs Cover 4

If you don't want to hot route the HB and FB, but instead want them to run their default pass routes, that's fine.They will be open the flats for quick pass, but there defenders playing buzz zones will quickly converge on them. If they are able to make the tackle, you won't pick up much yardage. If you are able to break the tackle, then there is some extra yardage to be picked up.

Key Notes:

• If bump-n-run man coverage is called, the same reads still applies
• If a man blitz is called, there should be enough time to throw to the SL on the cross. If not dump it off to the most open back. If no safety is playing deep, look throw deep to one of the outside receivers. Make sure when making the throw, to throw it inside towards the middle of the field.
• If zone blitz is called, look to see where it is coming from. If it comes from the inside, look for the HB if he is running a curl or the slot on the cross. If it's from the outside, you should have enough time to go deep.