Playbooks
At a Glance
Overview
Doubles Off Close Wk is a 2x2 Shotgun look from 11 personnel. It places one receiver wide and one slot receiver on each side, with the tight end aligned off the ball in a tight wing/H-back spot to the weak side of the formation. The running back sits in the backfield next to the QB. Other Doubles variations keep the TE attached or split him into the slot. Here the TE starts off the line and close to the tackle, so he can pull, arc, kick out or leak into routes without being jammed at the line. That alignment is the key to the set. It gives you a true Doubles passing structure while keeping a sixth gap blocker available for gap-scheme runs like Counter Y and Mtn Buck Sweep.
The off-ball TE creates constant conflict for second-level defenders. When he crosses the formation on Counter Y or Y Lead Read Option, linebackers flow with him. That same movement sells PA Y Cross and Mtn PA Y Cross, where he releases across the field behind vacated hook zones. The 2x2 spacing forces defenses to declare their coverage early. Split-safety shells leave the slot receivers matched on nickel corners or linebackers in Pivot In Seams and Double Post. Single-high looks open the outside for X Dagger and X Cross.
The Mountain (Mtn) plays add pre-snap motion that reveals man or zone and shifts the run strength. The RPO package (RPO Read Bubble, RPO Zone Read Bubble, Mtn RPO Peek Slant, Mtn RPO Alert Bubble, Mtn RPO Read Bubble) punishes defenders who cheat into the box. The tags point to a set built for a 3DRB or Power HB carrying the run game and an SLWR winning inside against nickel defenders. Gadget players can also be motioned into screen and bubble roles.
Strengths
- The off-ball TE gives you a legitimate gap-scheme run game from a four-wide-style spread look, with Counter Y and Mtn Buck Sweep creating extra blockers at the point of attack against light nickel boxes.
- PA Y Cross and Mtn PA Y Cross are elite zone beaters: the run fake pulls the hook defenders down while the TE crosses behind them, and the deep over or post holds the safety to open a huge throwing window.
- Mtn Mesh Rail and Snag HB Wheel give you reliable man beaters: mesh traffic creates natural rubs against Cover 1 and Cover 0, and the HB rail or wheel isolates a 3DRB on a linebacker in space.
- The 2x2 alignment with two SLWR spots stresses Cover 2 and Cover 4 with Pivot In Seams and Double Post, forcing safeties to choose between the seam and the post in the middle of the field.
- The deep RPO bubble menu lets you read the overhang defender and get easy yardage for Gadget or SLWR players when defenses stack the box, while Mountain motion confirms man or zone before the snap.
Weaknesses
- The TE is often your only extra blocker, and he starts off the ball, so edge pressure and nano blitzes off the weak side can beat him to the spot on PA Y Cross and Mtn PA Wave before the QB finishes the fake.
- Many of the play-action and deep concepts (Double Post, X Dagger, Sprint Flood) need time to develop, which makes them vulnerable to Cover 0 and six-man pressure without hot routing the HB or TE into protection.
- A user-controlled middle linebacker or robber safety sitting in the hook zone can take away the Y Cross and the Mtn Mesh Rail crossers, which are the core reads of the set.
- The TE alignment tips the run strength and gap-scheme tendencies, so smart opponents can slant the defensive line and shift linebackers toward the TE side to blow up Counter Y and Mtn Buck Sweep.
- The bubble and screen plays (HB Slip Screen, Mtn TE Mid Screen, RPO bubbles) are easily snuffed out by press-heavy looks and aggressive flat defenders, especially if you call them too often.
Usage Tips
Open drives on early downs with Inside Zone and Counter Y to establish the Power HB, then go to PA Y Cross or Mtn PA Y Cross on 2nd and short once linebackers start triggering downhill on the TE pull.
Use Mountain motion as a pre-snap read tool: if a defender follows the motion across, you have man coverage and should work Mtn Mesh Rail or Snag HB Wheel; if the defense bumps over without a trail defender, attack zone with Pivot In Seams or X Dagger.
Against Cover 0 or heavy blitz looks, hot route the HB to a block or a quick slant, or audible to HB Slip Screen or Mtn TE Mid Screen to punish the rushers vacating the middle.
On RPO Read Bubble and Mtn RPO Alert Bubble, read the overhang defender over the slot: if he walks into the box, throw the bubble to your SLWR or Gadget player; if he widens, hand off and let the 3DRB work the lighter box.
In the red zone and on 3rd and medium, Mtn Stick X Replace and X Cross give quick, high-percentage reads, and you can streak the outside receiver on the stick side to clear out cloud corners and open the flat.
Plays (22)
Counter YCounter, Run Play, Power Run
Double PostPost, Double Posts, Pass Play +6
HB Slip ScreenScreen Pass, Hb Screen, Pass Play +2
Inside ZoneInside Zone, Run Play, Zone Run- Mtn Buck SweepRun Play
Mtn Mesh RailMesh, Motion, Pass Play +5- Mtn PA WaveDeep Cross, Crosser, Post +4
- Mtn PA Y CrossCrosser, Bubble Screen, Comeback +7
- Mtn RPO Alert BubbleBubble Screen, Post, Pass Play +1
- Mtn RPO Peek SlantSlant, In, Pass Play +1
- Mtn RPO Read BubbleBubble Screen, Pass Play, Run Play
Mtn Stick X ReplaceStick, Stick Concept, Motion +5
Mtn TE Mid ScreenScreen Pass, Te Screen, Motion +5
PA Y CrossPlay Action, Y Cross, Pass Play +6
Pivot In SeamsPivot, Pass Play, Seam +4
RPO Read BubbleRPO, Pass Play, Run Play- RPO Zone Read BubbleRPO, Pass Play, Run Play +1
- Snag HB WheelWheel, Snag, Hitch +2
- Sprint FloodCorner, Deep Cross, Crosser +3
- X CrossCrosser, Block and Release, Deep Cross +4
X DaggerDagger, Pass Play, Cover 2 Beater +5
Y Lead Read OptionRead Option, Run Play
