Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 11 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn Return Y-Shake is a Shotgun Deuce Close (12 personnel) play-action style route concept that uses a jet motion tag before the snap to help identify man versus zone coverage. Off the diagram, the outside receiver to the boundary runs a deep go up the sideline while the inside slot runs a skinny post/bender that crosses the field, the Y (tight end) works a shake route breaking outside then vertical after the initial cut, and the backside receiver runs a deep flag/corner route into the open grass. The primary read progression starts with the Y-shake route working the middle of the field for the man beater window, then works out to the backside corner route as the zone beater if the middle is capped, with the deep go route serving as a shot-play alert if a defender bites on motion or shows single high.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense rotates a safety down to match the tight end/Y alignment, since that often signals man coverage responsibility on the shake route. Watch the flat defender at the snap: if he widens with the jet motion, the shake route has an easy access lane into the middle void. Post-snap, track any user-controlled linebacker or safety sitting in a shallow zone drop, since he can undercut the shake route if he reads the quarterback's eyes early. Single high safety shells are vulnerable to the backside corner route and the deep go, since there is only one deep defender to cover two vertical stems. Cover 3 with a hard flat corner squeezing the sideline can take away the deep go, so be ready to check to the shake route or backside corner as your primary answer against that shell.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to confirm man coverage: if the defender follows the motion man across the formation, key on the Y-shake route immediately since it will have a favorable matchup out of the break. Against zone shells, work your eyes to the backside corner route since it settles in the void between the flat defender and the deep third safety. Best called on 2nd or 3rd and medium to long when you need a schemed explosive play rather than a checkdown. Pair this with Mtn Stick or RPO Read Mtn Stick earlier in a series so defenses respect the quick game before you hit them with this deeper shake concept. If the defense shows two-high shells consistently, sequence this with PA Deep Over or PA Deep Cross to keep the safeties honest and open up the shake route over the middle.
