Playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn Bunch Cross Screen is a screen pass out of Shotgun Tight Flex Wk with 11 personnel, built off the bunch alignment to disguise a wide receiver screen underneath while two vertical routes and a deep crosser clear out the underneath defenders. The two gold routes cross deep downfield off the bunch to occupy linebackers and safeties, while the blue route works to the flat and breaks back, and the offensive line sets up a screen wall to the boundary side on the red route. The primary read is the screen: get the ball out quickly to the receiver working behind the line with blockers stacked in front, using the crossing routes upfield as the clear out to pull defenders away from the screen lane.
Defensive Reads
Watch for linebackers sitting flat footed at the snap, that is a sign they read screen and will jump the throw. If the defense shows Cover 3 or Cover 4 zone shells, underneath defenders may sink and eat up the screen lane, so be ready to bail out. Man coverage with aggressive linebackers chasing the crossing routes is the ideal defensive alignment for this screen to hit big. Blitzes off the edge can disrupt the timing of this play since the screen needs a beat to develop, so a well timed nano blitz on the play side can blow it up before blockers get set. Spy or lurk defenders sitting in the middle of the field can jump the crossing routes and also be in position to read and react to the screen, killing both options at once.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or third and short when defenses expect a run or a quick pass out of bunch formation.
Check pre-snap for man coverage or blitz looks since the crossing routes will pull defenders vertically and open the screen lane behind them.
Get the ball out fast to the screen receiver as soon as the blockers set up, do not hold the ball waiting on the crossers to develop.
Sequence this with Mtn Y Cross or Mtn Bunch Cross Dig earlier in a series so the defense starts jumping the crossing routes, then hit them with the screen to punish overaggressive linebackers.
Use pre-snap motion if available to identify man versus zone before the snap so you know whether the screen or a checkdown to the crosser is the better option.
