Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn Cross X Post is a five-man route concept out of Shotgun Wing Flex Offset with 12 personnel, built to stress the middle of the field with a deep post and a crossing route working underneath it. Both outside receivers push vertical to clear out the deep coverage while the slot runs a deep post that sits behind the crosser, and the inside receiver near the formation runs a crossing route from the strong side across the field underneath the post. The near receiver on the offset side runs a quick out to the flat as a checkdown option, with the offensive line in standard pass protection. This is a man beater built around the crosser creating natural separation against man defenders, with the primary read progression starting at the post, working down to the crosser, and finishing with the flat route if both are covered.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the safety is aligned deep middle, if he is cheating toward the post side you may need to check to a shorter play or take the crosser sooner. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they sink deep into the middle zone they can undercut the crosser, so be ready to reset your eyes to the flat route. This play beats man coverage and single high shells because the crosser picks off trailing defenders and the post has a clear runway to the vacated deep middle. Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells with two deep safeties can shut this down since there is help over the top on the post, forcing you to rely on the crosser and flat route instead. Post-snap, key any user-controlled defender sitting in a lurk position in the middle of the field, since he can jump the crosser route if you telegraph the throw too early.
Usage Tips
Look for single high safety shells pre-snap since the post route is designed to split the safety and attack the vacated middle of the field.
Use motion before the snap to identify if the defense is playing man or zone, if the defender follows the motion man across the formation you are getting man coverage.
Hot route the flat route into a quick hitch or speed out against teams that load the box on early down and distance to give yourself a faster outlet.
Pair this play with Double Cross or Wheel Post Drag in your play-calling sequence so the defense sees similar route stems but different concepts, forcing linebackers to hesitate on crosser reads.
Best used on second and medium to second and long where you have room to let the post and crosser develop, since both routes take time to clear the intermediate zone.
