Stop Crossers with the 'Cut' Rule 🏈
Learn to defend deep crossers and the 'Wave' concept in Single-High coverage, analyzing Cowboys and Texans strategies against Post Safeties.

MatchQuarters
3.0K views • Feb 12, 2026

About this video
Learn how to defend deep crossers and the 'Wave' concept using Single-High coverage. In this breakdown, we analyze how the Cowboys and Texans use the Post Safety to 'cut the crosser' and protect the deep middle against double-post routes.
In this episode:
- Defending the “Wave”: We break down how offenses use Double Post concepts to attack single-high coverage and how to counter it.
- Cutting the Deep Cross: Why modern defenses are shifting from cutting crossers “low” with a rat to cutting them “high” with the Post Safety.
- Post Safety Mechanics: The specific techniques and footwork required for the Post Safety to identify and “cap” deep crossing routes.
- Identifying Max Protection: How to recognize “Max Protect” looks as an immediate alert for deep vertical shots.
- High and Low Mesh Analysis: A granular look at Texans vs. Bills film, showing how to cut both the low and high crossers simultaneously in the same rep.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction: The Evolution of Cutting Crossers
01:09 Analyzing the Chiefs' "Wave" Concept
01:57 Cowboys Coverage: Post Safety & Nickel Mechanics
02:37 Identifying Max Protection Alerts
03:26 Executing the "Cut" vs. Deep Speed
04:19 Texans vs. Bills: Defending High-Low Crossers
05:27 Cutting the Low Cross (The Rat)
05:54 Cutting the High Cross (The Post Safety)
06:40 Review: Killing the Mesh Concept
Subscribe to MatchQuarters: https://www.matchquarters.com/
Listen to the Let's Talk Ball! Podcast: https://www.matchquarters.com/podcast
Follow on socials:
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#NFL #NFLfootball #NFLNews #DBU #collegefootball #highschoolfootball #football #footballcoach #footballcoaching
In this episode:
- Defending the “Wave”: We break down how offenses use Double Post concepts to attack single-high coverage and how to counter it.
- Cutting the Deep Cross: Why modern defenses are shifting from cutting crossers “low” with a rat to cutting them “high” with the Post Safety.
- Post Safety Mechanics: The specific techniques and footwork required for the Post Safety to identify and “cap” deep crossing routes.
- Identifying Max Protection: How to recognize “Max Protect” looks as an immediate alert for deep vertical shots.
- High and Low Mesh Analysis: A granular look at Texans vs. Bills film, showing how to cut both the low and high crossers simultaneously in the same rep.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction: The Evolution of Cutting Crossers
01:09 Analyzing the Chiefs' "Wave" Concept
01:57 Cowboys Coverage: Post Safety & Nickel Mechanics
02:37 Identifying Max Protection Alerts
03:26 Executing the "Cut" vs. Deep Speed
04:19 Texans vs. Bills: Defending High-Low Crossers
05:27 Cutting the Low Cross (The Rat)
05:54 Cutting the High Cross (The Post Safety)
06:40 Review: Killing the Mesh Concept
Subscribe to MatchQuarters: https://www.matchquarters.com/
Listen to the Let's Talk Ball! Podcast: https://www.matchquarters.com/podcast
Follow on socials:
X - https://x.com/The_Coach_A
IG - https://www.instagram.com/matchquarters/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@matchquarters?lang=en
Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/matchquarters.bsky.social
#NFL #NFLfootball #NFLNews #DBU #collegefootball #highschoolfootball #football #footballcoach #footballcoaching
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Video Information
Views
3.0K
Likes
116
Duration
7:33
Published
Feb 12, 2026
User Reviews
4.5
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