Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn PA Z Over is a play-action pass out of Shotgun Doubles Offset Wk that shows a hard fake to the backfield before the QB works a two-level crossing concept on the boundary side. The diagram shows one route stemming vertically before breaking into a deep crosser that travels all the way across the field, while the underneath receiver runs a flat route to the opposite sideline and a third receiver clears vertically up the numbers on a go. The play-action fake occupies linebackers and the safety flowing downhill, opening the deep over route as the primary read, with the flat route serving as the checkdown against a hard squeeze.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high safety alignment since this concept is built to exploit Cover 3 and Cover 1 by clearing the middle of the field for the deep crosser. Key the play side linebacker after the snap, if he bites hard on the run fake the over route will have a clean throwing lane behind him. Watch for a user controlled defender sitting in the deep middle hole, a disciplined lurk defender can undercut the over route if the QB throws it late. Against zone coverage, the flat route is the pressure release valve when the deep crosser is capped, so track the corner's depth on that side to see if he sinks under the crosser or stays flat footed. Man coverage with safety help over the top is the toughest matchup for this play since the crosser has to fight through traffic the entire route, so expect longer developing throws in that shell.
Usage Tips
Sell the run fake by holding the play-action animation out fully before looking to the deep over, since impatient throws will sail into an underneath defender still reading run.
Use this against single high shells and Cover 3 rotations where the deep crosser can work away from the middle safety and split zone defenders horizontally.
Hot route the flat runner into a quicker option if you see man coverage with no safety help over the top, since the over route needs time to develop against tight man leverage.
Pair this with RPO Zone Peek or RPO Peek Slant earlier in a series so the defense respects the run action pre-snap, then hit them with this shot play once linebackers start crashing downhill.
Best called on second and medium or early third down when defenses are more willing to sell out on run support, giving the play-action fake real teeth.
