passing concept

Mesh Concept

Mesh crosses two shallow routes so they pass close together in the middle of the field. Man defenders chasing them run into each other, and against zone the crossers settle in the open windows.

How Mesh Is Built

Two receivers from opposite sides run shallow crossers at about 4 and 5 yards, passing within a step of each other at the mesh point. In Crucible's Mesh, a cross at 10 to 12 yards and an in route at 15 yards work the middle above them, with the back on a rail up the sideline.

What Mesh Beats

Man coverage (Cover 1 and Cover 5, often called 2-Man): trailing defenders get picked or go over the top, and the receivers keep running away.
Blitzes, which empty the short middle.

How the QB Reads It

Flash the back on the rail first: if no one can run with the back, throw it. If not, work the triangle: the cross over the top and the two shallows underneath, throwing whichever one the linebackers leave. Then work low to high on the in route and the shallow coming toward it.

Common Questions

Why is it called Mesh?

The two shallow crossers mesh together, passing right next to each other in the middle of the field.

Does Mesh work against zone?

Yes. The shallows stop in the open windows instead of running across, and the deeper routes low-high the linebackers.

Rep Mesh in Crucible

Crucible is a quarterback simulator: you take the snap, read the defense and make the throw, then see exactly what you missed. Unlimited reps, on your phone.

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