Play Description
#22 Mesh is a staple concept of the Air Raid, so naturally it is a staple of this 5v5 Flag Football Air Raid Playbook. In fact, Mesh and #12 All Hitches typically make up 50-60% of 5v5 Air Raid play calls on gameday.
Mesh is a misdirection play designed to mimic the look of #21 Deep Cross before throwing something unexpected at the defense. This play sends three receivers in one direction while sneaking the fourth through the congestion in the opposite direction. The crossing action of these “rub routes” slows defenders and creates separation, often leaving at least one receiver wide open.
#22 is most effective against Man-to-Man, Cover 2, and Cover 3.
Assignments & Key Reads
For three of your receivers, Mesh is the exact same as #21 Deep Cross. However, the fourth (orange) receiver runs a misdirection route crossing between blue and green creating congestion and confusing defenders in the middle of the field.
- WR (orange) – Crossing route between the blue and green receivers. Look for the ball as soon as you pass both blue and purple.
- TE/C (blue) – Flat route to a depth of five yards. Look for the ball immediately.
- Slot (green) – Set the mesh point at 7 yards. Look for the ball when you cross over top of the orange receiver. Continue to sideline at 10 yards.
- WR (purple) – Post route breaking at seven yards. Look for the ball out of your break.
- QB (red) – Find open grass as the crossing routes clear. Deliver the ball in under three seconds.
Most of the time your opponent won’t be able to stay with the orange crossing route. If they do, it typically leaves green or purple open for a nice gain.
Beating the Defense
Mesh is most effective against Man Coverage, Cover 2, and Cover 3. Against Man, it creates hesitation at the intersection of the three routes. #22 tears up a Cover 2 by exploiting the large holes in the zone precisely where the routes come together. To beat Cover 3, Mesh simply wins the numbers game by putting one too many receivers in the short zones.
Beating Man Coverage
Putting many receivers in a small space causes issues for the defense. Their players’ reactions slow at the crossing point. Defenders have to slow down both mentally and physically at the crossing point. Physically to avoid collisions, and mentally to process the amount of people in a small area.
This gives your receivers the space they need to make a play.
Beating Cover 2
To beat Cover 2, read the intersection of the crossing routes.
Purple’s route holds the right CB outside just long enough for the play to develop, and the right Safety has to pick up the Post when it gets deep enough.
The LB, if not blitzing, has to react to green crossing in front and stay with that route for a few steps. If LB brings the blitz, there’s a huge hole in the middle.
The blue receiver forces the left CB to stay in the flat.
Meanwhile, orange is crossing from left to right into the huge patch of grass between the LB and the right CB.
Beating Cover 3
Against a Cover 3, Mesh is a numbers game. The defense has three Safeties deep to account for one deep route from purple. This leaves just two defenders in the shallow zones to cover three short-medium routes.
The QB simply has to find the open patch of grass and throw to the receiver that fills it.
Beating Cover 1
Mesh may not be the best call against a defense with four shallow zone defenders. The single-high Safety will easily cover the post route, and it’s 4 shallow defenders against just 3 receivers. You lose the numbers game here.
Call something with multiple deep routes instead. Try calling #13 Three Verts, #21 Deep Cross, or #23 Post-Wheel to soften the coverage and open up the field for Mesh later on.
Final Notes
The key to installing Mesh successfully is the spacing of the routes. Too close and you’ll have players colliding (ask me how I know). Too wide and the defense will run through without issue.
The precise spacing only happens through many repetitions in practice, but when your team gets it right Mesh may become your favorite football play.
The best part of having success with Mesh is hearing opposing coaches freak out after you hit the open receiver three or four times in short succession.
“They’re just running the same play!”
“You gotta cover that guy!”
“Stay with the crossing route!”
Touchdown.
If you haven’t already, check out our guide to reading flag football coverages to get better at calling plays on the fly.
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