Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn Cross Screen is a screen pass out of Shotgun Split Y Off Close that sends three vertical clear-out routes upfield while the offensive line sets up a wall in front of the backfield to spring the screen. The running back releases underneath, catches the ball behind the line, then follows blockers on a crossing angle before turning it upfield behind a convoy of linemen. This is a zone beater designed to bait linebackers into dropping deep with the three verticals, and the primary read is simply getting the ball to the RB in space once the underneath blockers get set.
Defensive Reads
Key on middle linebacker depth at the snap, if he sits shallow he can jump the screen lane before blockers arrive Watch for user-controlled defenders spying the backfield instead of dropping with the verticals, this is the biggest tell that the screen is sniffed out Cover 3 and Cover 4 zone shells are vulnerable since the deep defenders bite on the three verticals and vacate the underneath area Overload blitzes from the offense's left can beat this play outright since the blocking wall needs time to develop Man coverage with linebackers locked on the RB out of the backfield shuts this down quickly, as there is no natural pick to spring separation
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or second and short when defenses are sitting in zone shells expecting a standard dropback pass
Watch pre-snap for linebackers showing blitz or crashing the box, since a hard blitz can beat the screen before blockers get set
Use the three vertical routes to hold safeties and linebackers deep, then throw the screen quickly once the RB clears the line of scrimmage
Pair this with Mtn Inside Zone and Mtn PA HB Swing to keep the defense guessing between run action and screen looks from the same formation
Avoid calling this against aggressive man press corners who jump routes quickly, since the delayed blocking setup gives blitzers time to close
