Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn PA Cross Switch is a play-action pass out of Shotgun Y Off Trio Close that uses run-fake mechanics to hold the linebackers before working a deep crossing combo. Off the play fake, the boundary receiver runs a deep dig that breaks into a crosser toward the far sideline while the field-side X releases vertically up the numbers on a switch-style go route, and the underneath receiver runs a flat-to-corner route out of the backfield area to hold the flat defender. The primary read starts with the deep crosser working across the field, then progresses to the switch vertical route on the opposite side if the crosser is capped, with the flat route as the checkdown against soft coverage.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify whether the safeties are showing single high or split, since this concept is built to punish Cover 3 and Cover 1 zone drops with the deep crosser. Post-snap, key the flow of the middle linebacker, if he bites hard on the play-action fake the crosser will have a wide throwing lane behind him. Watch for a user-controlled defender sitting in the deep middle third or lurking on the crosser route, that is the primary defender who can blow up this concept if he reads the quarterback's eyes. Against man coverage, look at how the corner on the switch vertical route plays his leverage, if he is playing inside shade the quarterback can throw him open on the sideline. If the defense shows Cover 2 with two deep safeties splitting the field, the crosser will run into the safety in the middle of the field, so the switch vertical becomes the better answer.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs when you have already established the run game out of this formation so the play-action freezes second level defenders.
Check for single high safety shells pre-snap, this play is designed to attack Cover 3 and Cover 1 because the deep crosser will find grass between zone drops.
If you see two deep safeties pre-snap, be ready to work the switch vertical route on the far side since it can win one-on-one against a Cover 2 corner.
Pair this call with Mtn PA X Over and Mtn Mesh Rail in the same set so defenses cannot sit on the crossing routes, since all three share similar initial route stems.
Hot route the flat runner into a quick out if you see a linebacker spying the backfield, since the crosser needs time to develop and you want an outlet against pressure.
