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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Mtn Y Screen is a screen pass out of Shotgun 11 personnel that sends the two outside receivers and the inline TE vertical on go routes to clear out coverage while the backside receiver motions across the formation to sell run action before releasing to the flat. The offensive line sets up a wide receiver screen look with the RB or slot help releasing outside to lead block, giving the ball carrier a lane to the sideline. The primary read is the screen receiver in the flat off the motion, with the three verticals acting purely as clear out routes rather than progression reads.
Defensive Reads
Watch for defenders trailing the pre-snap motion man across the formation, this signals man coverage and tells you the screen has room to develop against a trailing defender. Zone coverage shells that sink cornerbacks deep on the verticals are ideal since it opens the flat completely for the screen release. Blitz-heavy calls with edge rushers crashing hard are especially vulnerable since the screen blockers will have a clean angle on unblocked defenders flowing upfield. Watch for a user-controlled defender sitting in a shallow zone or spying near the line, a smart user can jump the screen route and blow up the play before blockers get set. Defenses that play disciplined zone drops without over-pursuing on the vertical routes and keep a linebacker or nickel corner sitting underneath can shut this down, so avoid calling this into teams sitting in soft zone with disciplined linebacker eyes.
Usage Tips
Call this play against defenses that show aggressive edge blitzes or man pressure since the verticals will occupy corners and safeties while the screen develops behind the rush.
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense follows the man in motion, if a defender trails across the formation you are likely facing man coverage and the screen has a numbers advantage.
Let the screen develop fully before throwing, do not rush the release since blockers need time to get out in front of the ball carrier.
Pair this with Mtn HB Swing or HB Slip Screen earlier in a series so the defense starts keying run action and screens, then hit them with Four Verticals or Mtn PA Verticals off similar formation and motion to cash in on aggressive linebacker and safety flow.
Best used on early downs or after establishing inside zone and read option looks from this same set so linebackers are flowing hard downhill.
