Playbooks
Mtn PA Verticals
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn PA Verticals is a play-action four verticals shot play out of Shotgun Wing Slot Wk with 12 personnel. Pre-snap motion sets the formation before the play fakes an inside handoff, and all four eligible receivers push vertically up the seams and boundaries: the two outside receivers stem straight up the numbers while the TE and slot climb the seams, with the offensive line selling run blocks to hold linebackers before releasing into pass protection. This is a shot play designed to attack both Cover 2 and Cover 3 shells by flooding the vertical stretch, with the primary read starting on the safety with the deepest middle presence and working from the seam route to the outside vertical based on which safety widens or bites on the run fake.
Defensive Reads
Check safety depth before the snap, since safeties sitting at 8 to 10 yards are vulnerable to the vertical stretch once the play fake holds the linebackers. Watch for corners jumping the seam routes out of zone drops, which signals Cover 3 and means the outside vertical against a rotated safety is the better shot. If both safeties stay deep and level in a true Cover 2 shell, the seam route sitting between them in the honey hole is the highest percentage throw before they can close. Man coverage with a single deep safety in the middle of the field is the biggest vulnerability, since one missed safety help leaves a vertical uncovered downfield. User-controlled defenders sprinting to double the seam or a linebacker spying the play fake instead of dropping can tip a blitz or a robber concept, so climb the pocket and reset your eyes to the backside vertical.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense is showing man or zone before the snap, since a defender following the motion man across the formation signals man coverage.
Look for two-high safety shells and attack the seam route immediately since Cover 2 safeties have to choose between the seam and the outside vertical.
If you see single-high Cover 3, key the strong side safety rotation and throw the seam route opposite his rotation before he can get over the top.
Hot route the outside verticals into deep comebacks against aggressive corners playing press man to create separation off the vertical stem.
Pair this play with Mtn PA Slot Option or RPO Peek Post from the same set on early downs to set up run fakes that make the linebackers bite harder on this shot play later in the series.
