Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn Fk Rub is a rub concept out of Shotgun Flex Y Off Close with 11 personnel that uses a pre-snap motion to help sell the rub action to the boundary. Backside, the two receivers run a mesh style pick combo (flat and speed out) that occupies underneath defenders, while on the play side the TE runs a vertical seam and the outside receiver runs a corner route off a shared release to create natural rub separation against man coverage, with the HB releasing on a wide flat route as a checkdown or screen valve. This is primarily a man beater built to spring the corner route free off the rub, and the QB progression starts with the corner route, works down to the vertical seam, then checks down to the HB flat route if both are covered.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, watch for a defender aligned to trail the motion man, if he mirrors across the formation you are looking at man coverage and the rub concept should win quickly. Check safety depth before the snap, two high shells with soft corners can bracket the corner route and force you to live checkdown to the HB flat. Post-snap, identify any user-controlled defender lurking in the shallow crossing area since he can jump the rub combo and undercut both the flat and out routes. Watch linebacker depth on the seam route, if the second level linebackers sink deep in zone drops the TE seam window shrinks and you should reset to the HB flat outlet. This concept struggles against aggressive man press with a robber safety underneath, since the rub picks can be jumped early and the corner route loses its natural separation window.
Usage Tips
Use the motion pre-snap to identify man versus zone, if the defender follows across the formation you know you have a man beater matchup advantage on the rub side.
Attack Cover 1 and Cover 3 man matchups with the corner route first since the rub action at the top of the route stem is designed to create natural separation against tight man coverage.
If the defense shows zone shell post motion, work the seam read on the TE since he can split zone defenders in the intermediate area before checking down to the HB.
Pair this play with Mtn Rub Smash or Mtn Counter Y in your play-calling sequence since both start from the same Flex Y Off Close look and force the defense to respect both rub and misdirection concepts.
Use this play on second and medium or third and short since the rub route combo develops relatively quickly and the HB flat gives you a safe checkdown against pressure.
