Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn PA Flood Y-Delay is a play-action flood concept out of Shotgun Bunch Str Offset that puts three defenders in conflict to one side while a delayed release complements the deep shot. Off the run fake, the outside receiver takes the go route up the sideline (deep clear out), the slot runs a corner/out breaking route to the flat area, and the Y (tight end) releases late on a delay drag underneath after showing pass block, creating a true three level flood: deep, intermediate, and delayed shallow. The backside receiver runs a dig back across the field as a change up read, giving the QB a full flood-to-backside progression. This is a Cover 3 beater by design, since the flood overloads the deep third corner and the flat defender while the Y-Delay exploits underneath zone droppers who bite on the play fake.
Defensive Reads
Key the strong safety and corner to the bunch side pre-snap, if they are shaded outside and deep it signals Cover 3 or Cover 4 which the flood route combo is designed to exploit. Watch the flat defender and curl-to-flat zone defender post-snap, if they widen with the corner route it opens up the Y-Delay sitting underneath. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the toughest matchup for this concept since the go route loses its clear out advantage and the delay route can get picked up by a spying linebacker. Beware disguised Cover 1 or man blitz looks, the delayed release of the Y can get the tight end picked off by a blitzing linebacker if the protection breaks down. If you see two deep safeties (Cover 2 or Cover 4), prioritize the flat and delay routes underneath rather than forcing the go route into double coverage.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion out of the bunch to identify if the defense is playing man or zone before the snap, since the play is built to punish zone drops. Look for Cover 3 shells with a single high safety, this is when the flood concept to the strong side is most deadly because the corner cannot cover both the go route and the corner route. Progression should start with the deep flood route, come down to the intermediate flat breaker, then check the Y-Delay underneath if the deep shot is capped by a sky safety. On third and medium, hold the play fake extra long to let the Y-Delay develop, since linebackers often abandon their zone drop to bite on the run action. Pair this play with Mtn Inside Zone or Duo earlier in a drive to sell the run fake and make the delay route hit even harder against aggressive run fits.
