Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn Bench Curls is a five man route concept out of Shotgun Spread Y-Flex Wk that pairs a mountain point motion with a curl and bench combo on the boundary side. To the closed side, the receiver motions and runs an arcing route up the sideline while the two inside receivers work vertical stems that break into curls at intermediate depth, sitting down in the soft spots of zone coverage. To the field side, the outside receiver runs a corner breaking go route while the inside slot receiver runs a shallow bench route flattening underneath, creating a natural high low stretch on the flat defender. This is primarily a zone beater built to attack Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells by settling receivers into the seams between the underneath zone defenders and the deep defenders, with the primary read starting on the curls working from inside out before working to the bench and corner combo on the field side if the underneath defenders sink too deep.
Defensive Reads
Watch the pre snap safety alignment for two high shells since Cover 4 and Cover 2 leave the curl windows exposed to zone drops that are slower to react. Track the flat defender after the motion since a defender who stays wide and does not shuffle inside signals man coverage and opens the bench route for an easy pitch and catch. Key the linebacker depth at the snap because shallow drops indicate underneath zone that will jump the curls, forcing a quicker progression to the bench and corner side. Watch for a user controlled lurk defender sitting in the middle of the field since this play's curl concept is vulnerable to a rover sitting in the throwing lane between the hash marks. Look for disguised Cover 3 buzz rotations post snap since a corner sinking hard into the deep third can undercut the corner route and bait an interception if the quarterback does not read it in time.
Usage Tips
Use the pre snap motion to identify if the defense rotates or shifts a linebacker to the flat, which reveals man coverage versus zone matchups instantly.
Target the curl routes on second and medium to third and short since the sit down window opens up quickly against zone drops and linebackers biting on shorter routes.
If you diagnose man coverage from the motion adjustment, hot route the bench route into a quick out or speed out to beat trailing defenders before the corner route develops.
Pair this play with Mtn Bench and Mtn Whip Cross in the same play calling sequence to keep defenders guessing between the curl sit routes and deeper crossing patterns off similar formation and motion looks.
Against aggressive user blitzes, prioritize the bench route as a quick outlet since it clears the underneath traffic fastest and limits sack risk on max protect looks.
