Playbooks
Mtn PA Flood is a play-action pass out of Singleback Deuce Close Tilt 21 personnel that sells the run fake toward the mountain motion before flooding one side of the field with three levels of routes. The concept typically stacks a deep out or corner route, an intermediate flood route, and a shallow flat option to the same side, forcing zone defenders to pick their poison and creating natural leverage against man coverage. This is primarily a zone beater built to attack Cover 3 and Cover 2 rotations, with the primary read progressing from the deep flood route to the intermediate breaking route, and finally down to the checkdown in the flat if the underneath defenders sink too deep.
Identify whether the defense is showing single high or two high safety look before the snap, since single high indicates more grass over the middle but potential Cover 3 rotation to the flood side. Watch the flow of the linebackers after the snap. If they bite hard on the run fake, the intermediate flood route will come open quickly against the vacated zone. Key the cornerback technique on the flood side. Off man or soft zone alignment favors the deep out or corner route, while tight press man coverage signals you should progress faster to the underneath options. Look for a user controlled defender sitting in the flood zone or lurking near the intermediate route, since a smart user will jump the flood concept and rob the middle read. Beware of overload blitzes from the play-action side, since a fast edge rusher or blitzing linebacker can collapse the pocket before the deep flood route has time to develop, especially if your offensive line is in max protect without the second back releasing late.
Use this play on early downs or manageable third downs when you have already established the Mtn run game from this set so linebackers are conditioned to bite on the play-action fake.
Check the safety alignment before the snap. If you see two high safeties sitting deep, the flood side becomes tougher, so be ready to hit the underneath flat route quickly instead of forcing the deep shot.
Hot route the backside receiver into a quick drag or slant if you diagnose man coverage, since the flood concept alone is not built to consistently beat tight man unless you manipulate a defender with your eyes first.
Pair this call with Mtn HB Misdirection Lt or Mtn Jet Sweep earlier in a series so the defense keys on the ground game, making the play-action fake more believable and slowing down linebacker reaction time to the pass.
Take a shot at the deep flood route on first down or in two minute situations when the defense is more likely to sit in soft zone shells expecting a run based on personnel and formation tendencies.