Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 13 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn Drive Zig is a Cover 4 beater out of Shotgun Bunch Y-Flex that combines a deep zig (deep cross) route with an underneath drive concept and an outlet checkdown to the flat. From the bunch alignment, the outside receiver runs a deep zig across the middle while the inside bunch receiver clears out with a deep in-out corner-breaking route, and the third bunch receiver runs a quick drive route underneath toward the sideline. The backside X receiver runs a shallow drag across the formation as a checkdown outlet against blitz or if the deep routes are covered. The primary read progression starts with the deep zig crossing route against Cover 4 quarters, works to the corner route breaking to the sideline as the second read, and comes down to the shallow drag as the built-in checkdown against pressure.
Defensive Reads
Identify two deep safeties before the snap since this play is built to exploit the seam vacated by underneath zone defenders in Cover 4 looks. Watch the flow of the linebackers after the snap; if they widen to the drive route or bite on the shallow drag, the deep zig will have a clean throwing lane across the middle. Man coverage with press corners on the bunch receivers can disrupt the timing of the zig and corner routes, so be ready to check down to the drag route quickly if you see man alignment pre-snap. Cover 3 with a hard-charging sam blitzer can collapse the pocket before the zig fully develops, so know your protection and be ready to get the ball out to the flat or drag route. A robber or lurking linebacker sitting in the middle of the field is the biggest threat to this concept, since he can jump the zig route if the quarterback stares it down too long.
Usage Tips
Look for two high safeties pre-snap to confirm Cover 4 or Cover 2 shells before snapping since this play is designed to attack quarters coverage with the deep zig crossing behind the linebackers.
Use motion pre-snap to identify man versus zone: if a defender follows the motion man across the formation you are likely facing man coverage and should lean on the deep zig versus a single high safety.
Hot route the shallow drag receiver into a quicker option or hitch if you are facing heavy pressure looks, since the drag serves as your built-in checkdown against the blitz.
Best used on second and medium to third and long situations where the deep zig has time to develop and the defense is more likely to sit in zone shells.
Pair this play with Mtn Dagger Sit or Mtn Inside Post from the same set to keep defenders guessing between deep crossing routes and vertical seam shots off similar bunch formation looks.
