Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn H Option lines up in Shotgun Spread Y-Slot Wk with the H-back going in motion pre-snap across the formation. Off the snap the outside receiver on the boundary runs a corner/vertical route up the sideline, the inline TE releases vertically up the seam, the slot man breaks off with a quick option route working back to the flat, and the motion H-back sprints a shallow drag underneath from the opposite side while the running back checks down on a shallow flat/option route out of the backfield. This is a man beater built off horizontal stretch and natural picks, with the primary read starting on the option route in the slot before working to the H-back drag underneath and the vertical seam/corner combo on top.
Defensive Reads
Watch the slot defender at the snap, if he sinks into a zone drop instead of mirroring the option route you are facing zone coverage and should progress to the corner route on top. Key the linebacker or nickel defender assigned to the motion H-back, if he trails in man coverage across the formation the drag route is likely to be picked or rubbed open. Check pre-snap safety depth, a single high safety shell signals Cover 3 or Cover 1 which opens up the option route sitting down versus zone or breaking away versus man. Look for a linebacker spying the underneath crossers, this indicates a Tampa 2 or Cover 4 shell designed to take away the drag and option routes, forcing a quicker decision to the vertical seam. Beware a hard blitz off the edge on the side away from the motion, this play holds up well against man beaters but needs the quarterback to get through the option read fast versus five or six man pressure.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion on the H-back to identify man versus zone, if a defender follows across the formation you know its man coverage and the option route becomes a lock read.
Attack Cover 3 and Cover 1 with the option route sitting down in the honey hole between the underneath zones or breaking off the man defender.
If the defense rotates a safety down to the motion side pre-snap, expect man coverage or a blitz and get ready to hit the underneath drag quickly.
Pair this play with Mtn Buck Sweep or HB Base out of the same set to keep the defense honest against run action before dialing up Mtn H Option on early downs.
Best used on first or second down in medium yardage situations where defenses are still guessing between run and pass out of the Spread Y-Slot Wk look.
Combine with Mtn Fk Double Pass or PA Read later in a series once the defense starts jumping the underneath option route.
