Football Toolbox

The Shallow Cross Series That Wins vs Man AND Zone

by

 
JJ Elkins, Spec Teams Coord/WR Coach, Hardin-Simmons

Full video on Glazier Drive:  DB Man Coverage Technique & Drills

OVERVIEW

Coach Elkins breaks down Hardin-Simmons’ Shallow Cross series, explaining why it’s a staple concept: high completion percentage, effective against both man and zone coverage, built-in hot routes vs. pressure, and enough flexibility (via motion, shifts, tempo, personnel) to look different every time while staying the same core play. His philosophy: master a small number of concepts and dress them up, rather than installing dozens of schemes.

CONCEPT STRUCTURE

Everything is organized around identifying who runs the shallow (no deeper than 3 yards, working underneath the linebackers). Once players know who has the shallow, the rest of the concept falls into place:

  • First receiver opposite the shallow runs a 10-yard dig
  • First receiver outside the dig runs a post
  • Running back protects to the shallow side, then releases to replace the shallow
  • The player on the same side as the shallow runs a vertical (wheel or corner, depending on personnel), releasing vertical for three steps before bending into the route to stay clear of the shallow underneath

TEACHING POINTS FOR THE SHALLOW RECEIVER

First step should attack across the field, climbing to a depth of three yards, then continuing to run and stretch horizontally. Coaches don’t want the receiver to sit down versus man or zone — this preserves the stretch on the defense and avoids clogging the same window as the dig.

QUARTERBACK PROGRESSION

The QB’s eyes go to the flat defender opposite the shallow’s origin:

  1. If the flat defender sinks or doesn’t run with the shallow — throw the shallow first.
  2. If the flat defender leverages the shallow — QB’s eyes move to the playside safety.
  3. If the safety gets depth — throw the dig in the window.
  4. If the safety stays on the dig — progress to the post (rarely reached in practice).
  5. If nothing’s open — checkdown to the back or QB scramble.

TAGS AND VARIATIONS

  • Switch tag: Flips the backside dig/post assignments; in a 2×2 set, this can turn into a vertical instead of a post.
  • 3×1 trips look (61 Switch): The slot receiver’s job is to occupy the middle-field safety — whether that turns into a double-dig look or he has to climb over the top into the post, his role is to pull that defender away and open space underneath.

COACHING PHILOSOPHY TAKEAWAY

The system is designed to be easy to teach because it hinges on one identifier (who has the shallow), letting coaches install multiple formations, motions, and tags quickly without overloading players with unrelated rules per play.