Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn PA Power Spot is a play-action pass off run-blocking action, using the Mountain (power) run fake to hold the front seven before attacking the middle levels of the field. Off the fake, the diagram shows a vertical route bending into a deep out breaking outside near the sideline, a quick flat route working underneath to the same side, and a short check release out of the backfield crossing the middle. This is a Cover 3 beater by design: the deep out sits down in the void behind the curl-flat defender and in front of the deep third corner, while the flat route occupies the underneath zone defender and the checkdown gives you a answer versus a hard blitz. Primary progression starts with the deep breaking route to the flat combo on the play-action side, then works down to the underneath check release if the defense flows hard to the fake or the sideline routes are capped.
Defensive Reads
Key the flow of the linebackers immediately after the snap, if they bite hard on the play-action fake and flow toward the line of scrimmage, the deep out and crossing route behind them will be wide open. Watch the corner to the strong side pre-snap, if he is playing a tight press or sitting in a hard curl-flat zone, the deep out route will have to be thrown with anticipation before he can undercut it. Identify single high safety looks (Cover 3 or Cover 1) as the shell this play is designed to punish, since the deep out sits in the classic Cover 3 void behind the corner and in front of the safety. Look for a user-controlled defender sitting in a lurk position over the middle, since the check release crossing route is vulnerable to a jumped throw if the defense reads play action quickly. Versus a nano blitz or overload pressure look, expect the quarterback to be forced into the checkdown or flat route quickly, so play the underneath routes tight and trust the pass rush to disrupt timing.
Usage Tips
Sell the Mountain run fake with a normal snap tempo, holding the ball on the fake for a beat before setting up in the pocket to freeze linebackers and safeties.
Pre-snap, look for two deep safeties rotating down to one side or a single high safety sitting deep, both are signs you can work the deep out route versus Cover 3 or Cover 1.
If the corner to the play-action side is playing off or bailing at the snap, hot route the flat route into a quick out or speed out to force a fast throw before the pass rush arrives.
Use this in run-pass sequencing with Mtn HB Power O and Mtn Duo to get defenders keying run fits, then hit this play action shot once they start crashing downhill on early downs.
Best called on first or second down in normal or run-heavy personnel situations where defenses expect Mtn HB Power O or Strong Power out of the same formation look.
