Cross Fire
Crosses both ends inside on a hard slant to disrupt inside zone.
Concept: Ends slant to opposite B-gaps behind the tackles to blow up double teams.
Grows with your players
Same play, more layers as they age up — teach it once and build on it every season for a consistent program.
- 10UIntroduce: Line up right and own your gap — win with alignment, pad level, and pursuit to the ball.
- 12UAttack blocks: Add get-off and block destruction so the front controls the line of scrimmage.
- 14UAdd movement: Add the line stunt/twist to beat the offense's blocking rules. Teach the coverage drops behind the front and read run vs. pass. Combine front, pressure, and coverage — and disguise it pre-snap.
Every position's job
0-technique two-gapping the center to occupy the middle blockers.
Hold the strong B-gap and occupy the guard/tackle to free the crossing end.
Hold the weak B-gap and occupy blockers for the crossing end.
Slant hard inside to the opposite (weak) B-gap behind the tackle to blow up double teams.
Slant hard inside to the opposite (strong) B-gap behind the tackle.
Fill downhill and mirror the ball behind the crossing ends.
Scrape to set the strong edge the crossing ends vacated.
Scrape to set the weak edge the crossing ends vacated.
Cover your receiver and support the perimeter.
Cover your receiver and hold backside.
Deep middle over the top, rally to bounced runs.
How to teach it
- 1Both ends slant inside to opposite B-gaps behind the tackles to disrupt inside zone and double teams.
- 2Backers scrape to set the edges the crossing ends leave open.
- 3The ends aim for the far B-gap, attacking underneath the down blocks.
Common mistakes to fix
- !Both ends crossing into the same lane and clogging; fix by assigning clear opposite B-gap paths.
- !Edges left uncovered; fix by timing Sam/Will scrapes to the cross.
Build this into your call sheet.
Adopt this system in your coach portal, tag plays by situation, and print call sheets and player wristbands.