Playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn Curl N Go is run from Shotgun Y Off Trips with 11 personnel, using pre-snap motion to shift the trips look before the snap. Off motion, the backside X runs a vertical go route up the sideline for a big-play shot, while the trips side stacks a curl from the outside receiver, a deep dig-breaking curl from the slot, and a short curl/flat route from the inner trips receiver, with the running back releasing into a shallow check-down route underneath. This is a man beater at its core, using the go route to isolate the backside corner deep while the curl and dig combo on the trips side attacks zone drops and creates natural picks against man coverage. Primary read progression starts with the backside go route for the big shot, then works to the deep curl/dig from the slot, and finally checks down to the flat route or running back if the coverage takes away the first two options.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single-high versus two-high safety alignment since a lone deep safety often cannot help on both the go route and the deep curl/dig. Watch the motion man closely: if a defender trails him across the formation before the snap, you are facing man coverage and should expect the go route to have a one-on-one matchup deep. Post-snap, key the flat defender and underneath linebackers to see if they widen to the trips side curls, which opens the running back check-down over the middle. This concept struggles against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with strong safety help over the top of the go route, since the deep shot loses its window. Man coverage with no safety rotation to the trips side is the biggest liability, as the curl and dig routes can create natural rub picks that user-controlled defenders cannot recover from in time.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion to identify if the defense is playing man or zone based on whether a defender follows the motion man across the formation.
If the corner over the go route is playing off man with no safety help over the top, take the shot deep immediately off the snap.
Against zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4, work the curl and dig combo on the trips side since those routes settle into the seams and soft spots.
Pair this play with Mtn Stick or Mtn Y Screen earlier in a drive to condition the defense to expect short trips concepts, then hit them with the go route shot when they jump the curls.
Best used on 2nd or 3rd and medium to long when defenses are more likely to sit in zone shells, giving you access to both the deep shot and the intermediate curl reads.
