Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn Slot Middle comes out of Shotgun Bunch X Nasty with a pre-snap motion tag that shifts the bunch alignment before the snap. Off the snap, the outside receiver runs a deep in from the bunch stack that clears out over the middle, the middle bunch receiver climbs vertically then cuts into a corner route breaking outside, and the third bunch receiver releases underneath into a quick flat route to the boundary side. The running back checks for blitz protection out of the backfield then works a short angle route into the open space vacated by the linebackers, giving this concept a man beater layered look with a clear high low read between the corner breaking route and the underneath flat.
Defensive Reads
Read the flat defender first, if he sinks to cover the underneath flat the corner route behind him is live in the soft spot of the zone. Watch the deep safety pre-snap, a single high safety shell signals man coverage underneath and favors the deep in route sitting down in the middle void. If you see two deep safeties with the corner staying outside on the bunch, the defense is likely in a zone shell and the deep in route becomes the primary answer against the underneath zone drop. Check linebacker depth after the motion, shallow linebackers who bite on the running back check route leave the corner breaking route open behind them. Watch for a lurking defender sitting in the throwing lane of the deep in route, this indicates a Tampa 2 or match zone concept designed to take away that exact throw.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense is playing man or zone, if the defender follows the motion man across the formation you are getting man coverage and the deep in route becomes your primary answer.
Key on the flat defender to the bunch side, if a linebacker widens with the flat route it opens a throwing lane for the corner breaking route sitting behind him.
This play works best on second and medium or third and short since the underneath flat and running back check route give you a quick outlet if the deep routes are covered.
Pair this call with Mtn Mesh Cross or Mtn China Cross earlier in a series so defenses respect the shallow crossers, then hit this deep in and corner combo when linebackers start cheating up to jump underneath routes.
Against zone shells, throw with anticipation to the deep in route as it settles into the void between the flat defender and the deep half safety.
