The 2024 Cross & Wave Manual

The downfield Cross family of concepts are popular at all levels of football. The route itself can be built into many different concepts and read structures, making it incredibly versatile. It serves a purpose against man, zone, and match coverages. It is a catalyst for generating explosive plays.

The best offenses in the NFL utilize the Hi Cross to attack all types of coverage structures on a weekly basis. The teams that I studied in 2024 all used it with success.

The route can be adapted for the red zone. I have included the red zone variations for each team as well.

The Buccaneers, Commanders, and Vikings sections cover the entire season’s usage of the concept. Those sections were part of the 2024 manuals, so they follow that format.

The sections covering the Broncos, 49ers, Rams, Packers, and Dolphins follow the game planning format. These highlight specific variations that caught my attention that necessitated discussion.