Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Quick HB Mtn Spacing runs a pre-snap motion from the outside X receiver into the backfield while the formation runs a spacing concept underneath. Off the snap, the backside receiver runs a deep corner route pulling the top of the defense away, the inline TE runs a quick out to the flat, and the slot defender sits down on a hitch/quick stop route in the underneath void, creating a horizontal stretch with three levels underneath and one vertical shot outside. This is a classic zone beater built to punish Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells by flooding one side of the field with three receivers at different depths while the corner route occupies the deep defender, and the primary read progression starts with the underneath hitch, works to the flat route, and finishes with the corner route if the coverage bites down on the shorter routes.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify safety depth and cornerback alignment on the motion side, if the corner follows the motion man tight you are likely facing man coverage and the corner route becomes vulnerable to a well-timed throw. Watch for the flat defender's positioning after the snap, if he sinks too deep to cover the corner route the underneath hitch and flat routes will be wide open for easy yardage. This play beats Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells because the deep corner route occupies the deep third or quarter defender while three underneath routes create a numbers advantage in the shallow zones. Man coverage with a physical corner who can disrupt the motion man's release, or a blitz that gets pressure before the quick game develops, can shut this play down quickly. Look for a user-controlled lurk defender sitting in the shallow zone anticipating the spacing concept, since experienced defenders will jump the hitch route and bait the quarterback into a turnover if he does not read the flat and corner options.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense is playing man or zone, if the defender follows the motion man across the formation you are likely facing man coverage and should look to the corner route or hitch against a trailing defender.
Against zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4, work your eyes underneath first to the hitch route since the spacing concept is designed to sit defenders down in soft zones and create easy completions before the corner route develops.
This play pairs well with Mtn PA X Over or Mtn PA Cross Switch in your play-calling sequence since both punish defenders who key on the quick spacing routes and jump underneath throws.
Best called on early downs or in third and short to medium situations where defenses are likely to sit in zone coverage and give up the easy underneath completion.
If you see a linebacker or slot corner sitting hard on the hitch route, hot route the flat defender into a deeper option or take the corner route shot since the underneath defender is playing to jump the quick throw.
