Playbooks

Mtn Y Cross

Shotgun·Split Slot Open·20

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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

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Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetSplit Slot Open

Personnel

202 RB · 0 TE · 3 WR

In 1 playbook

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Mtn Y Cross out of Shotgun Split Slot Open is a man beater built around the Y receiver working a deep crossing route from one side of the field to the other, stressing linebackers and safeties who have to sink or run with the traffic. The mountain (Mtn) concept stacks additional routes underneath and to the outside to hold zone defenders and create natural picks against man coverage, while the backfield stays in to protect against four man pressure. The primary read starts with the Y Cross on the move, then works down to the underneath crossers and out to the flat or comeback route if the middle of the field is clogged.

Defensive Reads

Identify single high safety shells pre snap, since one deep defender cannot help over the crosser and also account for outside verticals at the same time. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they are shallow and quick to sink into hook zones this indicates zone coverage and you should hot route your crosser into a shallow settle instead of running it through traffic. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the biggest green light for this play, take the Y Cross all the way across the field. Cover 2 with hard flat defenders can jump the underneath crossers, so read the corners at the snap to see if they are sitting on shallow routes before committing to that option. User controlled lurk defenders sitting in the middle of the field, often at linebacker depth, are the primary threat to this concept, if you see a defender spying the crossing lane bail to your check down or comeback route instead of forcing the ball into the middle.

Usage Tips

Use this play on second and medium to second and long when you want a explosive gain over the middle against man coverage. Check the leverage of the linebackers pre snap. If they are lined up tight to the box with no safety help over the top, the Y Cross window will be wide open once it clears the traffic. Hot route the underneath crosser into a shallow drag if you are facing a Cover 3 look, since that gives you a quick zone beater outlet instead of forcing the deep crosser into a sinking zone defender. Pair this play with Mtn Flood or PA Y Cross in the same set to keep the defense guessing between horizontal stretch concepts and the vertical crossing shot, both share the same pre snap disguise so defenders keying tendencies get punished. On third and long, take a shot at the Y Cross first read immediately off the snap rather than progressing through the route tree, since the crosser needs time to develop and you cannot afford to eat a sack.