Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn PA Read is a play-action pass out of Shotgun Normal Y Off with 11 personnel that sells a run fake to the backfield before the QB works through a three level read. The two outside receivers run vertical routes that break outward at the top of their stems, the inline TE releases up the seam and bends across the middle on a deep crosser, and the RB leaks out to the flat on a check release swing route for the underneath outlet. This concept attacks zone defenses by clearing out the middle with the crosser while stretching the flat to seam to sideline, and the primary read progresses from the deep crossing route to the flat swing if the linebackers sink into the middle read.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high versus two high safety shells since single high leaves the deep crosser wide open working across the field. Watch linebacker depth at the snap: if they step up hard on the play fake, the crosser and flat routes will both be open behind them. User players should key the RB out of the backfield immediately since the swing route is the built in checkdown against any pressure or lurk look. Cover 3 with a sinking middle linebacker can take away the crosser, so spy or drop a defender into that intermediate window to bait the QB into a lower value throw. Man coverage with no safety help over the top on the outside vertical breaking routes is vulnerable, so if you see man alignment on the outside receivers, expect the QB to look outside first before working back to the crosser.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs like first or second and short to mid distance so the play fake has real run threat and linebackers bite on the mesh point.
Check the middle of the field pre-snap: if it is open (single high safety), prioritize the deep crosser sitting behind the linebackers for a big chunk gain.
If the defense shows two high safeties or you see a hard flat defender sitting on the RB, hot route the backside outside receiver into a quick out or slant to speed up the timing against man coverage.
Pair this with Mtn HB Swing or Mtn HB Off Tackle earlier in a drive so the play fake on Mtn PA Read holds linebackers even longer once they start keying run tendencies.
Against aggressive user blitzers, get the ball out on the RB swing route quickly since the play action fake naturally slows down your pass protection reads.
