Playbooks
Mtn PA Choice Deep is a play-action shot play out of Shotgun Wide Slot Left that uses pre-snap motion to shift the defense before the fake handoff freezes linebackers. The core concept is a choice route paired with deep shots on the outside, giving the quarterback a vertical shot against man coverage while the choice route sits down or breaks against zone drops for a built-in zone beater option. Primary progression starts with the choice route to read man versus zone leverage, then climbs to the deep outside shot if the play-action fake pulls the safety down and creates a one-on-one down the field.
Watch the linebacker depth at the snap, if they bite hard on the play-action fake it confirms room underneath and space for the choice route to settle in soft zones. Key the single high safety rotation, Cover 1 and Cover 3 shells with a deep middle defender cheating late are prime targets for the deep outside shot. Identify user controlled defenders lurking near the choice route, aggressive users sitting in that throwing lane will bait a checkdown or force you to climb the progression to the deep route. Cover 2 with two deep safeties is the toughest shell against this play since it takes away the deep shot and forces a tight window throw to the choice route. Watch for disguised blitzes off the edge, since play-action rollout protection can break down against overload pressure and force an early, inaccurate throw.
Use the pre-snap motion to identify man coverage through the defender following across the formation, since that confirms the deep shot route as your primary target.
Check the safety depth before the snap, if you see a single high safety cheating toward the choice route side, take the shot outside immediately off the play-action fake.
Hot route the choice route runner to sit shorter against zone heavy looks like Cover 3 or Cover 4 if you need a quicker underneath conversion on third and medium.
Pair this play with HB Dive or Inside Zone Split earlier in a series so the play-action fake actually holds linebackers and opens passing lanes on Mtn PA Choice Deep.
Best called on first or second down when defenses are still respecting run tendencies, since third and long defenses will sit on the pass and eliminate the play-action hold.