Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Mtn Zig Cross is a play-action shot play out of Shotgun Y Trio Offset Wk that hits deep crossers off a mountain motion action. The diagram shows two deep in-breaking routes stacked on top of each other, a zig from the backside that cuts across the field at depth and a deep cross from the middle of the formation that works over the top, while the outside receiver on the play side runs a short flat/comeback route to hold underneath defenders and the offensive line sets up in a max protect PA shell. This is a man beater built off crossing traffic that creates natural rubs, and the primary read progression starts with the deep cross working left to right, then works down to the zig route if the cross is taken away, with the flat route as the checkdown against a hard closing defense.
Defensive Reads
Read the safety depth before the snap, if both safeties are shallow and rotate hard to one side that signals man coverage and the deep cross should win versus a trailing defender. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they bite hard on the play action fake it opens a throwing lane for the zig route sitting behind them. Zone coverage with disciplined defenders sinking under crossers is the main counter to this concept, since the deep cross and zig can run into the same window and get picked off by a lurking linebacker or safety. User controlled defenders sitting in the middle of the field reading the quarterback's eyes are the biggest threat to this play, so quarterbacks need to look off the cross before committing. Cover 3 with a strong middle field safety and disciplined seam to flat defenders will squeeze both crossing routes and force the checkdown to the flat route.
Usage Tips
Use the mountain motion pre-snap to identify if the defense shifts a linebacker or safety, which tips zone versus man coverage before the snap. This play hits hardest against man coverage since the crossing routes create natural picks that shake defenders trying to stay in phase. Call this on early downs or second and medium when you have set up the defense with inside zone runs from this same set, since the play action freeze on linebackers opens the deep cross window. Pair this with Mtn PA Cross and Mtn PA Cross Switch in your play calling sequence so the defense cannot key on which crosser is the primary target. If you see a heavy blitz look pre-snap, hot route the flat route receiver to sit down quickly as your outlet against pressure.
