Playbooks
At a Glance
Overview
The U Off Stack set in Shotgun puts 12 personnel (1 RB, 2 TE) into a compressed, multi-purpose alignment. Two receivers are stacked to one side, the Y tight end is attached to the line, and the U tight end is set off the ball as a movable wing or H-back type piece. The halfback sits next to the QB in the gun. Most Shotgun sets spread the field with 11 or 10 personnel. This one keeps two tight ends on the field while still giving you a stacked release, so defenses have to respect inside zone, outside zone, and read option downhill runs before they can commit to pass coverage. The off-ball U is the key: he can arc block, kick out the edge, leak into the flat, or motion out to create Empty looks without changing personnel.
The stack gives you natural release leverage against press man. The point man and the trailing receiver force defenders to declare who takes the inside and outside release, which sets up switch releases, under routes, and rub concepts. Mtn PA Switch Flood and Mtn PA Crossers use the run threat from the 12 personnel look to pull linebackers downhill, then flood a zone or cross man defenders over the middle behind them. Mtn PA Y-Leak uses the attached Y tight end as a delayed leak target once the defense bites on the boot action.
The Empty packages (Empty Slot Under, Empty Hitch N Go, Empty Y-Choice Under) are what make this set dangerous against base defense. Opponents who match your 12 personnel with base 4-3 or 3-4 personnel end up with linebackers and safeties isolated on tight ends and the halfback in space. The RPO Alert Out and RPO Zone Alert Screen tags let you punish light boxes or overplaying corners with one post-snap read, and Mtn HB Punch plus the zone runs let a Power HB or 3DRB wear down a defense that tries to go small to stop the pass.
Strengths
- Stacked receiver release beats press man coverage, especially on Mtn Double Under and Mtn PA Switch Flood, where the switch release creates natural rubs and forces defenders to pass off routes cleanly or give up leverage
- The 12 personnel look draws base defense, so the Empty plays (Empty Y-Choice Under, Empty Slot Under) create linebacker on tight end and linebacker on halfback mismatches that a 3DRB or Gadget back can win on option routes
- A complete run menu (Inside Zone, Outside Zone, Mtn HB Punch, Mtn Read Option) with the U tight end as an extra blocker lets a Power HB punish nickel and dime personnel, and the heavy run threat makes Mtn PA Crossers and Mtn PA Y-Leak lethal against Cover 3 and Cover 1 when linebackers bite on the fake
- RPO Alert Out and RPO Zone Alert Screen give built-in answers to Cover 0 and loaded boxes: read the flat defender or apex player post snap and throw the out or screen if the box is overcommitted, handing off if it is light
- Mtn PA Switch Flood and Mtn PA Crossers stress Cover 3 and Cover 4 by levels, putting the flat and hook defenders in conflict, especially when the boot moves the QB toward the flood side
Weaknesses
- Only two true wide receivers are on the field, so defenses playing Cover 2 Man or Cover 6 with a spy can take away the stack and force you to win with tight ends who may lack elite speed and route running
- Simulated pressure and nano blitzes off the edge opposite the U tight end are dangerous on the PA concepts, because the long mesh and boot action leave the QB exposed if the backside end or a crashing slot corner is unaccounted for
- A user controlled middle linebacker or robber safety sitting in the hook zone can jump the crossers and under routes, since so many of the concepts (Mtn Double Under, Empty Slot Under, Mtn PA Crossers) target the middle of the field
- The Empty plays remove the halfback from protection, so a Cover 0 blitz with six or more rushers leaves no hot answer beyond quick throws, and you have to identify the blitz and set a quick slant or drag hot route before the snap
- The formation is compressed and the tight end alignment is predictable, so smart opponents will key the U tight end's alignment and motion tendencies to tell run from pass and shade their defense to the strength
Usage Tips
On early downs against base defense, lean on Inside Zone and Mtn HB Punch with a Power HB to force the opponent into heavier personnel or a single high safety, then come back with Mtn PA Crossers or Mtn PA Y-Leak once the box creeps down
When you see press man or Cover 1 pre snap (corners in press, single deep safety), audible to Mtn Double Under or Mtn PA Switch Flood and let the stack release create a natural rub, targeting the under route first
If the opponent answers your 12 personnel with nickel or dime, check to Outside Zone or Mtn Read Option and attack the lighter front, reading the backside end on the option so you hold the edge and punish undersized defenders
Against Cover 0 looks, audible to RPO Zone Alert Screen or a quick Empty Hitch N Go read, and hot route the tight end to a quick slant or drag so you have a throw before the unblocked rusher arrives
On third and medium, use Empty Y-Choice Under or Empty Slot Under to isolate your best tight end or a 3DRB on a linebacker, and read the defender's leverage post snap, throwing away from his hips on the option route
Plays (13)
Empty Hitch N GoHitch, Go, Stop And Go +6
Empty Slot UnderPass Play, Motion, Corner +9
Empty Y-Choice UnderOption Route, Pass Play, Block and Release +3
Inside ZoneInside Zone, Run Play, Zone Run
Mtn Double UnderMotion, Corner, Flat +3
Mtn HB PunchMotion, Run Play
Mtn PA CrossersPlay Action, Crosser, Motion +5
Mtn PA Switch FloodPlay Action, Flood, Motion +7
Mtn PA Y-LeakPlay Action, Motion, Pass Play +4
Mtn Read OptionRead Option, Motion, Run Play
Outside ZoneOutside Zone, Run Play, Zone Run
RPO Alert OutRPO, Out, Pass Play +1- RPO Zone Alert ScreenScreen Pass, RPO, Pass Play +3
