Black and Gold X's and O's | Identifying Concepts: The Crossing Route

For the next eight weeks, I will write one column a week regarding different concepts the Saints will use either on offense or in defensive packages in 2009.

Today's version deals with some of the intricacies of the Crossing Route, which has become a staple of pretty much every NFL offense, although few teams do it as well as the Saints.

A key to understanding the crossing route is to understand the purpose of the route. The main idea is to create a matchup problem either with a receiver on a linebacker, or a Tight End on a player that cannot cover him.

Generally, it is advisable to throw this pass after the receiver has cleared the extended pocket, for two reasons.

First, the quarterback has less of a chance of having such a pass deflected by a big defensive tackle.

Second, this allows the receiver to clear the coverage but still gives him room to run with the ball after he makes the catch.

Most crossing routes are designed to beat zone coverage, but some are also built to beat man-to-man.

These zone-busters generally come in three varieties.

First, you have the shallow cross, followed by the drag, and finally the deep cross.

You can think of these as short, intermediate, and deep-er.

The shallow route is generally run no deeper than three yards. It is intended to be run in front of the linebacker level. It is assumed the receiver can beat a linebacker going side-to-side.

Complimentary routes include hitches, clear outs, and occasionally even slant routes. But often times when a shallow cross is called, it's labeled as hot.

That's why quarterbacks will often throw this pass very quickly and generally fail to complete it.

The intermediate drag is generally run at five-to-six yards, but can be run deeper based on the depth of the linebackers and safeties on expected coverages.

Again, it is ideal to stay in front of the linebacker.

This time there will generally be deeper routes being run down the middle of the field, such as a Dig (Deep In), Post, or Seam. This will often take the attention of the linebackers to open up space for the receiver running the drag.

Finally, the Deep Cross is run deeper at ten-plus yards. This is intended to be run behind the linebacker level and in front of the safety level.

This route has beaten the Saints' defense many times over the past three years, but has also been a very effective play for the Saints' offense.

Lance Moore is probably the best at running this pattern. He shows patience running his routes so as to not give away the route, but he gets good burst in order to accelerate past the linebacker level.

He makes sure to stay in front of the safeties as well. Brees knows that as soon as he clears that final linebacker, he can make the throw.

Brees anticipates this very well, which allows him to make timing throws with accuracy.

There are also crossing routes designed to "rub" defensive players. Defensive players and coaches call this a "pick", but it really is a rub.

A "rub" is performed by two receivers. One goes in front of the defensive player, while the other goes about a yard deeper.

Often times the two defensive players, when playing man coverage, will run into each other, or at least bump each other enough to throw one off his path.

Once this happens, a receiver has plenty of daylight to run with the ball after the catch since the entire defense is playing man-to-man. The quarterback must read the defenders and determine which one will be most affected by the rub.

He then quickly must throw to the receiver he is covering.

If expected well, the crossing route is one of the most dangerous route concepts in the NFL.

It has become a staple of every offense at every level.

Yet, it is still safe to say the Saints do it as well anyone.