Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn Slot Under lines up out of Shotgun Bunch Spread with a pre-snap motion piece to help identify man versus zone. The backside X runs a vertical seam up the numberside, while the bunch releases with an over route sailing all the way across the field and a corner breaking to the opposite sideline off a mesh point near the line. Underneath, one bunch receiver runs an under route working back across the middle as a shallow crosser, and the HB releases into a flat route as the checkdown, with the OL sliding protection to pick up any pressure off the edge. This is a man beater built on the crossing under route and the deep over creating natural traffic and picks, with the primary read starting on the under route working the middle void before progressing to the corner and over routes on the backside.
Defensive Reads
Watch the slot corner and nickel defender pre-snap, if they are tight on the bunch receivers expect man coverage and the under route crossing traffic should spring free. Key the deep safety rotation after the snap, a two high shell that stays split is vulnerable to the over route since it forces one defender to cover the entire width of the field. Look for a linebacker sitting in the shallow middle zone since he is the primary defender who can jump the under route in zone coverage and cause a turnover. Man coverage with no help over the top is the biggest liability against this concept because the crossing routes create natural rub and separation. Cover 3 zones with a robber underneath can shut down the under route, so if you see the robber technique, look to bail out to the corner route on the backside instead.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify man coverage by watching if a defender follows the motion man across the formation.
If the defense shows single high safety, prioritize the deep over route since it stretches horizontally across a defense that may be occupied deep middle.
Hot route the HB flat route into a wheel if you diagnose zone coverage and need to attack the sideline vertically off a leaky linebacker.
Best called on second and medium or third and short since the under route provides a quick access answer against blitz-heavy fronts.
Pair this play with Mtn Slot Hitch or Mtn Slot Out from the same formation to keep the defense guessing on whether the under route or the quick hitch is coming out of the bunch look.
