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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Mtn PA Power Cross is a play-action pass out of the Pistol Full House TE formation that sells the Power O run look before releasing four routes into a deep crossing concept. The diagram shows the deep crosser (light blue) attacking vertically then breaking flat toward the far sideline underneath a streak, a dig/cross runner (yellow) working right to left across the middle of the field, an outside receiver (red) running a deep in breaking route toward the opposite hash, and a running back or tight end (dark blue) checking down into the flat off play action. The primary read progression starts with the deep crosser working across the field, then comes back to the dig underneath from the yellow route, and finally checks down to the flat route if the middle windows are closed.
Defensive Reads
Key the linebackers immediately after the snap. If they bite hard on the play action fake, the crossing routes will have wide throwing lanes and you should expect the quarterback to work the deep crosser first. Watch the middle linebacker or any user-controlled defender dropping into a lurk position over the yellow dig route since that is the spot where interceptions happen if the quarterback stares down the crosser too long. Identify press man coverage on the outside receiver running the red route. If the corner presses and the route still separates cleanly, this signals man coverage and the crossers underneath will also be open due to natural rub picks. Look for two deep safeties staying home instead of stepping up on the run fake. This tells you the offense may want to check into a checkdown quickly, so squeeze the flat route with your underneath defender. If your defense sends a blitz that gets home before the crosser fully develops, this play struggles, so disguise blitzes late and mix in delayed pressure to beat the play action timing.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs or third and medium when defenses are keying run because the play action off Power O holds linebackers and safeties for a beat, opening the crossing lanes.
Check pre-snap for single high safety looks since the deep crosser and dig combo stretch the middle of the field horizontally and vertically at the same time, giving you a clean answer against Cover 1 and Cover 3.
If the defense shows two high safeties, shift your first read to the yellow dig route since it settles in the void between the underneath zone and the deep half, a classic Cover 2 and Cover 4 beater.
Pair this play with Mtn Power O and Counter Lead earlier in a drive so the play action freezes second level defenders who have started keying the run fits from this same formation.
Use hot routes to slide the checkdown route (dark blue) into a wider flat against teams that bring a nano blitz off the edge, giving your quarterback a quick answer if the crossers are jumped.
