Playbooks

Mtn PA HB Slide

Shotgun·Trey Open HB Str·11

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 2 playbooks

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Breakdown

Mtn PA HB Slide is a play-action shot play out of the Shotgun Trey Open HB Str set that sells the inside zone run fake before working a mountain (mtn) route concept to the closed side while the HB slides out to the flat as a check down valve. The play-action fake holds the linebackers and safeties for a beat, opening up the deep mtn routes stacked to one side while the HB slide route gives the QB a built-in outlet against blitz pressure or when the deep windows are covered. This is a man beater against aggressive linebacker flow and a zone beater against teams that key run first, with the primary read progression going from the deepest mtn route to the intermediate breaking route underneath it, then down to the HB slide as the safety valve.

Defensive Reads

Watch the linebacker depth at the snap, if they step up hard on the run fake the mtn concept will be wide open behind them Identify two high safety shells pre-snap since those defenses are most vulnerable to the vertical stretch this play creates Key the flat defender or nickel corner after the snap, if he stays home on the HB slide the underneath mtn route becomes the primary target Look for a user controlled safety sitting in a deep lurk over the mtn concept, that is the biggest threat to this play and usually means you should check down to the HB slide immediately Beware of overload blitzes from the play side since the play-action fake slows down your protection, if you see extra rushers crashing off the edge get the ball out on the HB slide quickly

Usage Tips

Run this on early downs like first or second and short to medium yardage so the play-action fake actually threatens the defense and freezes the linebackers

Check the safety alignment before the snap, two high shells with the safeties sitting deep are your green light since the run fake will hold them just long enough to hit the mtn concept behind the flow

If the defense shows single high or a heavy box, be ready to bail into the HB slide quickly since the play fake will not hold long enough against extra rushers

Use hot routes to convert the underneath mtn route into a quick out or drag if you see man coverage with no safety help over the top

Pair this with RPO Zone Alert Smoke or RPO Peek Bubble earlier in a drive so the defense starts respecting the run action and bites harder on the fake when you come back to this shot play

Sequence this after several inside zone or QB Power calls from the same set so linebackers are conditioned to attack downhill on the snap, maximizing the play-action window

Other Plays in Trey Open HB Str