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Breakdown
Mtn Bench is a two level flood concept out of Shotgun Ace Slot 12 personnel that isolates both sides of the field with mirrored bench routes. To the boundary the outside receiver runs a deep out that breaks hard toward the sideline while the slot underneath runs a corner route up the numbers, creating a high low stretch on that cornerback. To the field side the outside receiver runs the same deep bench route while the inside receiver releases underneath into a flat/hook read, giving the quarterback a mirrored concept with a built in flat to deep progression on both sides. This is a zone beater designed to attack cornerbacks and flat defenders who have to choose between the underneath route and the sideline breaking route, and the primary read progression starts with the field side flat to corner combo before working back to the boundary bench route if the coverage rotates away.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and alignment since two high shells invite the boundary bench route while single high shells with a robber can jump the deep breaking routes on both sides. Watch the flat defender to the field side immediately after the snap, since a hard flat defender who chases the underneath receiver leaves the corner route window wide open behind him. Key the cornerbacks at the snap, if they bail immediately into deep zone drops the bench routes have room to sit down in front of them for an easy pitch and catch. Look for user controlled defenders sitting in the intermediate zone or lurking near the sideline breaks, since a smart user can rob the deep bench route on either side and force the quarterback to hold the ball. This play struggles against aggressive Cover 2 corners who jam the outside release and against underneath zone blitzes that get quick pressure before the deep bench routes have time to develop.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion to identify if the defense is in man or zone before the snap, since the mirrored bench routes on both sides will show clear leverage differences against man coverage.
Against zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4, work the flat to corner side first since the deep bench route will sit down in the open zone window behind the cornerback.
If you see two high safeties pre-snap, target the boundary bench route since single coverage on that outside receiver is common in split safety shells.
Hot route the underneath flat receiver into a quicker option or slide the protection if you are facing a heavy blitz look, since this play takes time to develop with two deep breaking routes.
Pair Mtn Bench with Mtn Z Spot or Flood from the same set to keep the defense guessing between deep bench breaks and quicker spot drops, and mix in RPO Alert Bubble on early downs to force linebackers to respect the run action before you air it out on 2nd or 3rd and medium.
