Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn H Angle is a Shotgun Split Y Off passing concept with 21 personnel that combines an angle route out of the backfield with an out and up combo on the boundary and a deep dig from the flexed TE. The HB releases into the angle route, sitting down in the shallow area away from the flow, giving the QB a built-in man beater against linebackers that stay glued underneath. On the strong side, the outside receiver runs an out and up (sit, then vertical) while the TE breaks into a dig over the middle, stretching zone defenders horizontally and vertically at the same time. Primary read progression starts with the HB angle route against man coverage, then works to the dig, and finally to the out and up if the corner bites on the shallow break.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if a linebacker or safety is aligned over the HB out of the backfield, since that defender is the primary key for whether the angle route will hit clean. Watch for Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells with deep safeties sitting still, which tells you the underneath zone defenders will have eyes on the angle route and may squat instead of chasing it. Post-snap, track the middle linebacker's drop depth against the TE dig, since a shallow drop opens the window over the middle while a deep drop takes it away and forces the check to the angle route. User-controlled defenders lurking in the shallow flat can jump the HB angle route, so scan for a rat defender sitting in that throwing lane before committing to the first read. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is where this play is most dangerous, but a disciplined Cover 2 with underneath zone defenders staying home on the angle route and a corner playing the out and up under control can shut this concept down.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion or alignment checks to confirm if the defense is showing man or zone before the snap, since this play punishes linebackers who chase the HB angle route in man coverage.
Against zone shells, key on the TE dig sitting down in the soft spot between the underneath zone and deep zone, and throw with anticipation before the linebacker can sink under it.
Hot route the backside receiver into a quick out or slant if the defense shows a heavy blitz look, since the protection can get overloaded with only the HB releasing late.
This play works best on second and medium or third and short, where the HB angle route can be an automatic completion versus man coverage for a manageable gain.
Pair this play with Mtn H Angle N Out or Mtn H Angle N Up from the same set to keep the defense guessing on the outside route while the HB angle look stays consistent, forcing linebackers to hesitate on their run fits.
