Playbooks

Mtn PA Y Cross

Shotgun·Doubles Off Close Wk·11

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetDoubles Off Close Wk

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 3 playbooks

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Breakdown

Mtn PA Y Cross is a play-action shot play out of Shotgun Doubles Off Close Wk that sells the Mtn (mountain motion) run fake before working a deep crossing route from the Y (tight end) across the field. The line executes run blocking to hold the edge defenders and second level linebackers, buying time for the quarterback to work the play fake and turn to throw. This is a man beater at its core, using the deep cross to create natural separation against man defenders trapped in traffic, while the backside also carries a vertical or comeback option to punish aggressive zone drops. The primary read progression starts with the Y crosser working from the play fake side across the field, then bails to any underneath checkdown or backside window if the linebackers sink hard into the cross.

Defensive Reads

Identify pre snap whether the defense is showing man or zone by checking corner alignment, tight man press corners with no help over the top get exposed hard by the crossing route. Watch the linebacker depth at the snap, if they bite on the run fake and flow toward the Mtn motion the middle of the field opens up for the Y crosser to run free. Key any user controlled lurk defender sitting in the shallow to intermediate zone, a smart user will sit on the crossing route so be ready to climb the ball over him or check down late if he jumps the throw. Beware Cover 3 sky or buzz looks with a robber defender spying the middle of the field, that coverage shell is built to take away the cross and bait you into a pick. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge can be an issue since the play fake mesh point takes time, so if you see a nano blitz alignment be ready to get the ball out fast on the shorter option instead of holding for the deep cross.

Usage Tips

Run this on early downs like first or second and short to medium yardage so the run fake actually holds linebackers and safeties honest.

Check the safety alignment pre snap, if you see two high safeties sitting deep the play fake will not fully influence them so be ready to work the cross as a rhythm throw rather than expecting a home run.

Use your hot route menu to convert the backside receiver into a comeback or a skinny post if you are getting Cover 3 with a hard flowing linebacker crew, that gives you a answer versus the corner sitting on the crosser.

Pair this with Mtn Buck Sweep and Inside Zone earlier in a series so the defense keys run action and starts crashing down before you hit them with the play fake shot off the same Mtn motion look.

Against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with safeties sitting flat footed, look to hit the Y cross underneath the deep safety before he can flip his hips and run with it, timing the throw before the crosser reaches the opposite hash is critical.