Playbooks
Mtn Crossers HB Choice out of Singleback Deuce Close Tilt (21 personnel) is a man beater built around dual crossing routes designed to sit down or continue based on the leverage of the defender chasing them, paired with an HB choice route out of the backfield that reads the flow of the second level. The crossers stretch the field horizontally to create natural picks against man coverage while the HB choice gives you a built in answer versus blitz since he can settle into the void or release late depending on linebacker depth. Primary read starts with the fastest crosser working from the numbers to the middle of the field, then progresses to the opposite crosser sitting down against zone, with the HB choice as your check down and blitz beater against pressure.
Check for man coverage indicators like press corners or a single high safety rotated late since the crossers create instant separation against man defenders forced to run through traffic Identify Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells pre-snap because the HB choice becomes the primary answer when linebackers are asked to carry crossers deep into zones they cannot cover Watch for a lurking middle linebacker or a user controlled defender sitting in the shallow zone since this is the main threat that can jump the crossing routes and bait a turnover Read blitz packages by watching A gap or overload pressure pre-snap, since the HB choice route becomes your hot route answer and the quickest way to neutralize free rushers This play struggles against disciplined match zone or pattern match Cover 6 looks where defenders pass off crossers instead of chasing, so avoid calling it against defenses that have shown pattern match tendencies
Use pre-snap motion with the TE or slot to confirm man versus zone before the snap since crossers thrive against man and the HB choice thrives against zone drops that leave the middle void open
Against Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells, key the flat defender and hot route your HB choice to sit in the soft spot between the linebackers and the deep zones if you see a heavy blitz look
This play is a strong call on 2nd and medium to 3rd and short since the crossers create natural rubs that let receivers separate quickly for an easy conversion
Pair this with Mtn PA Flood in your play calling sequence since the flood concept punishes teams that start cheating linebackers underneath to stop the crossers
Use Stick from the same set as a quick answer if the defense starts jumping the crossing routes with a robber or lurking linebacker, keeping the defense honest and unable to sit on one concept