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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Mtn PA Spinner is a play-action shot play out of the Bunch Str Offset set in Shotgun 11 personnel. Off the play-action mesh fake, the outside receiver from the bunch runs a deep vertical up the sideline while the two inside bunch receivers work a mesh-crosser combo underneath, with the yellow route pushing out and snapping back inside to sit in the void left by the crossing route. The red vertical is the primary read on the deep shot, with the yellow crosser working back as the underlying man beater breakoff and the blue seam clearing the deep third for the outside vertical to work behind zone or beat man.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, look for single high safety alignment which tells you Cover 1 or Cover 3 is likely, both of which are vulnerable to the deep outside vertical. If the defense shows two deep safeties, expect the underneath crosser to be your best matchup since zone defenders will widen with the vertical stems. Post-snap, key the flat defender and any user controlled linebacker dropping into the crosser lane, since a sitting linebacker can jump the yellow route if the play-action fake does not sell. Watch for a Cover 2 shell with press corners, which can squeeze the outside vertical and force you to hold the ball longer, so have your check down or scramble plan ready. Blitz heavy fronts with man coverage behind them are where this play hurts you most, since the play-action fake holds the quarterback in the pocket longer against extra rushers.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or 2nd and medium when the defense expects run out of Bunch Str Offset, since the play-action freeze on linebackers opens the vertical shot.
Check the safety alignment before the snap. Two deep safeties means you should target the yellow crosser sitting back inside, one high safety means you can trust the outside vertical against Cover 3 or Cover 1.
If the corner presses the outside bunch receiver, hot route the blue vertical to a quicker release or motion pre-snap to check for man coverage before committing to the shot play.
Pair this with Mtn Slot Post or Mtn Deep Post in your play-action sequence so linebackers stay honest and cannot sit on the crosser after seeing it once.
Use the play-action mesh action to bait the user linebacker, then reset your eyes to the deep vertical if the underneath crosser is covered.
