Sean McVay:The Rams Shallow Cross Variations and Concepts

I ve been studying the Rams passing attack. It is no secret that McVay loves condensed formations both 2x2 and 3x1. This past year was no different. They run numerous schemes from their condensed sets and have various successful concepts in his offense. The shallow cross concept is one of them. He will run these with 2x2 and 3x1 pass concepts.

Shallow Sit Concept

The shallow sit is one of my favorite concepts to defend. I see the Rams run it quite a but against teams that play 2 man lurk with the safety opposite their strength of formation coming down to play the crosser. McVay will often seem to get this play with the shallow going away from the safety that is dropping.

The safety is coming down to play the sit/crossing route which opens up the shallow in the other direction. This allows the shallow to work in space going the other direction.

Another example vs Cardinals

This time they are in 3x1 on 3rd and 6. Cardinals are playing cover 4 while reading 3. They are locking the 1wr side. The #1 wr beats the CB off the line and finds the void between the 2 zone LB. The Rams run subtle motion with the #2 man running a post corner with #3 running the sit. #1 runs the out to attempt to stretch the curl/flat defender. This opens up the roue for the crosser the other direction.

You see the safety take away the sit/crossing route. This opens the window underneath but the Lb doesn’t expand too much. The WR has to catch and make a play in which he does.

Film!

One last example vs the Steelers.

They bring the Z in motion and he runs the sit. The x on the opposite side runs the shallow. Kupp occupies the CB with the deep out route.

The Steelers are rotating to the 3 weak with the safety coming down. He takes away the sit route and it opens the shallow route.

The WR gets open on the concept.

Hit the Sit Route.

This time the crosser is taken away and the zone leaves the sit open. The QB makes the read and hits the sit route for the nice completion.