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Quick Reference
Not in any team playbook.
Breakdown
Mtn HB Fade lines up out of Shotgun Doubles Flex Y Off Close with 11 personnel and uses motion to bring the HB across the backfield before the snap. Off the snap the HB releases into a fade route toward the sideline while the two outside receivers cross with deep in-and-out routes (one breaking to the corner, the other working an over route across the field), and the inside slot receiver runs a quick out to the flat. The HB fade against a motioned matchup is the clear primary read, giving you a one-on-one throw versus a linebacker or slower defender in space, with the crossing routes up top serving as the secondary reads if the defense shifts to cover the motion.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, key the defender assigned to the HB during motion, a linebacker trailing across the formation signals man coverage and a clean fade opportunity. Watch safety depth before the snap, a single high safety cheating toward the field side can jump the fade route and turn it into a turnover. Post-snap, user linebackers should sink under the crossing routes at the top of the concept to eliminate the secondary reads and force the quarterback back to the HB fade. This play struggles against press man on the outside receivers combined with a robber safety sitting underneath, since it clogs both the fade window and the crossing routes. Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells with disciplined outside cornerbacks squeeze the fade route and take away the easy sideline throw, forcing the offense into a low percentage attempt.
Usage Tips
Use the HB motion pre-snap to identify man coverage, if a linebacker or safety follows the HB across the formation you have a mismatch on the fade.
Throw the HB fade early in the route stem, this play is designed to win on timing against slower defenders who cannot recover on the sideline.
Against zone shells, look to the crossing routes at the top of the route concept since the fade loses value when a corner sits over the top in a zone shell.
Pair this play with Mtn HB Angle or Mtn HB Out in the same set to keep defenses guessing on how you use HB motion and route combos out of this personnel.
Best called on short to medium yardage downs near the boundary where the fade route has room to work and the defense is more likely to be in man coverage.
