Playbooks

Mtn Cross HB Choice

Shotgun·Bunch Spread Nasty·11

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 2 playbooks

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Breakdown

Mtn Cross HB Choice runs out of the Bunch Spread Nasty set in Shotgun 11 personnel, using the tight bunch alignment to create natural rub routes and free releases against man coverage. The concept combines mountain crossing routes from the bunch with an HB choice route out of the backfield, giving you a built in check against blitzes since the RB can settle or break outside based on the leverage of the flowing linebacker. Primary read starts with the deep crosser working through traffic, then works down to the intermediate cross, and finally settles on the HB choice as your answer versus pressure or when both crossers are covered underneath.

Defensive Reads

Watch for a single high safety rotating late, this usually signals man coverage or a blitz package and tells you to prioritize the HB choice as your first move if you see extra rushers. Identify if the defense is running a banjo or switch technique on the bunch, if the defenders communicate the switch cleanly the crossers may get picked off early so be ready to reset to the HB choice. Key the middle linebacker's drop, if he sinks deep into a zone drop it usually opens the shallow crossing lane underneath him for an easy completion. This play struggles against a well disciplined Tampa 2 shell since the deep middle safety can rob the crosser if it drifts into his zone, so be ready to check down to the HB choice quickly. Look for a user controlled defender lurking in the shallow zone since aggressive gamers will often sit on the crossing route, if you see this hesitation late in your progression, work the HB choice route immediately before the pocket collapses.

Usage Tips

Check the safety alignment before the snap, a two high shell tells you the bunch crossers have room to work underneath the deep half while single high means you need to trust the HB choice against a blitzing look. Motion is not required here since the bunch already creates natural picks, but if the defense shows man coverage with press corners, expect the rub to spring the crosser wide open almost immediately after the snap. Use the HB choice as your blitz beater on third and medium situations since the back can sit down quick against a hot linebacker or break outside if the defender widens with him. Pair this play with Mtn Slot Cross or Mtn Slot Hitch in your call sheet sequence so the defense sees the same bunch look but has to respect different route depths, this keeps linebackers honest on their crossing route drops. Against zone heavy defenses, look to hit the intermediate crosser in the soft spot between the underneath zone and the deep defenders rather than forcing the low percentage throw to the far side crosser.

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