Playbooks
Mtn PA Cross is a play-action shot play out of Shotgun Normal Wing Pats Close designed to freeze the linebackers with run action before attacking the middle of the field with crossing routes. The mountain concept on the backside works in tandem with the deep cross to stretch zone defenders horizontally while creating natural rub opportunities against man coverage. The primary read starts with the deep cross working across the field, then progresses to the underneath crosser if the safety rotates over the top, making this an effective man and zone beater depending on the shell you diagnose pre-snap.
Identify two high safeties pre-snap since this shell often signals zone coverage that the crossing routes can exploit if linebackers respect the play-action. Watch linebacker depth at the snap: shallow linebackers who step up on the run fake open the passing window for the deep cross immediately. Beware of a robber or lurk defender sitting in the shallow middle zone, as this play's crossing routes can be jumped by a user controlled defender reading the quarterback's eyes. Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets exposed by the crossing traffic, but disciplined man defenders who trail through picks can still make the tackle short of a big gain. Cover 3 with a fast flowing middle linebacker can undercut the shallow crosser, so be ready to climb your progression to the deep cross if the underneath window closes.
Use this play on early downs like first or second and short to mid distance so the play-action fake actually holds linebackers and keeps them from sinking into the crossing lanes.
Check safety depth before the snap: if you see two high safeties sitting soft, the deep cross has room to work behind linebackers who bite on the run fake.
Against man coverage, trust the natural rub created by the crossing routes and take the underneath option if your primary crosser gets picked up in traffic.
Pair this play with Mtn HB Cross Screen and RPO Alert Mtn Bubble in the same series so the defense has to respect both the run fake and the quick game, softening their reaction to the deep shot.
Hot route the mtn concept receiver to a quick out if you see cornerbacks pressed and jumping routes, giving you a built in answer against aggressive man coverage.