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Breakdown
Mtn HB Corner comes out of Shotgun Bunch Spread Nasty with a bunch to one side and motion (Mtn) tightening the formation before the snap. Off the snap the bunch releases into a corner route up the numbers, a deep post/vertical breaking opposite from the outside receiver, and a shallow drag underneath crossing the formation to hold linebackers, while the HB releases from the backfield on a corner route of his own into the flat and up the sideline. This is a man beater built to stress the corner in isolation with natural picks off the bunch release, though the drag and vertical stem give it enough spacing to hold up against zone drops too. Primary read progression starts with the HB corner route working the flat to seam leverage, then works to the outside receiver's post/vertical shot, with the underneath drag as the checkdown against pressure or when the deep routes are covered.
Defensive Reads
Watch the safety alignment before the snap, a two high shell means the corner routes have less room to work outside so bait the underneath drag, while single high tells you to attack the post and corner combination immediately. Track the defender assigned to the motion man, if he mirrors across the formation that confirms man coverage and opens up rub route leverage off the bunch release. Key the flat defender to the bunch side, in zone coverage he will often sit on the shallow drag and force you to work the ball outside to the corner routes instead. Look for underneath robber or lurk defenders sitting in the middle of the field, since they can jump the drag route if the quarterback stares it down too long. Man coverage with no safety help over the top and inside linebackers biting on the drag is the ideal scenario for this concept, while press man with a deep safety rotating to the corner side or a Cover 3 sky shell with disciplined zone drops will shut down both the corner and drag options.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion out of the bunch to identify man versus zone before the snap, if the defense follows the motion man across the formation you have a strong indicator of man coverage and should lean into the HB corner and outside corner routes. Against single high safety looks throw off the post/vertical route working away from the bunch since the corner will not get help. Hot route the drag to a deeper in-cut if you see zone drops sitting underneath, since the shallow crosser is your safety valve versus pressure but can be undercut by sitting linebackers in zone. This play pairs well with Mtn Slot Hitch or Mtn Slot Cross out of the same bunch alignment, since the identical pre-snap motion and formation disguise which concept is coming and keep defenders guessing on assignment. Best used on second and medium to second and long where you want an explosive shot but still have the underneath drag as a checkdown to stay ahead of the sticks.
