Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn Spot Y Seam lines up in Shotgun with 11 personnel and shows a pre-snap motion tag that shifts the backfield look before the snap. At the snap the outside receiver runs a deep vertical seam up the numbers while the inner slot receiver works a corner breaking route into the void behind it, and the third receiver on that side runs a shallow drag underneath. The backside single receiver runs a quick out breaking route, and the running back releases into a wide flat route to the opposite side for a checkdown or screen-style outlet. This is a Cover 3 beater that stresses the deep third with the seam and the corner route working together while the flat and drag give you answers versus zone drops, so the primary read starts on the seam route into the corner route combo and works down to the flat as the outlet.
Defensive Reads
Watch the deep safety alignment before the snap, since a single high safety in the middle of the field signals Cover 3 or Cover 1 and both are vulnerable to the seam and corner combo. Key the flow of the linebackers after the snap, if they widen to cover the drag and flat routes it opens a throwing lane for the seam route up the middle. User the deep third defender or the safety over the seam route to take away the vertical shot, forcing the quarterback to check down to the flat or drag underneath. Look for Cover 4 or Cover 2 shells with two deep safeties, since these coverages get extra help over the seam and corner route and can bait the quarterback into a contested throw. Disguise a blitz by walking a linebacker to the line before the snap, since the protection on this play can be exposed by an overload blitz coming from the running back's side.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense is in man or zone by watching for a defender running with the motion man across the formation.
If the cornerback aligns with outside leverage and a deep third safety sits in the middle of the field, hit the seam route immediately since Cover 3 defenses struggle to cover both the seam and corner route on the same side.
Hot route the backside out route into a slant if you see man coverage with no help underneath, since that gives you a faster breaking man beater option.
This play works best on second and medium to third and short since the seam and corner combo needs time to develop but the drag and flat give you a quick answer against a blitz.
Pair this with Mtn Spot Dig or Mtn Y Stick from the same formation to keep the defense guessing between vertical seam shots and quick underneath spot concepts without changing your pre-snap look.
