Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn PA Z Slide is a play-action pass out of Singleback Toad X Nasty in 11 personnel that uses a mountain motion man to sell the run fake before releasing into the route concept. Off the play fake, the deep yellow route pushes vertically up the numbers and breaks into a deep dig across the middle, while the underneath yellow route works a shallow drag from the opposite side of the formation, creating a high-low flood concept on one half of the field. The blue route climbs up the seam or wheel area on the opposite side as a vertical outlet, and the white route runs a short crosser underneath as the checkdown. This is a play-action man beater designed to hit the deep dig off play fake freeze, with the primary read starting on the vertical seam/dig combo and progressing down to the shallow drag and checkdown if the top of the read is covered.
Defensive Reads
Watch the safety alignment pre-snap: two-high shells signal the deep dig may sit in a soft spot between zone defenders, while single-high shells suggest man coverage is more likely on the outside routes. Track the linebacker depth after the snap, since aggressive run fits on the play-action fake will vacate the middle of the field and open the dig and drag combo. Key on whether a defender travels with the mountain motion man, which confirms man coverage and tells you to attack with the deep dig immediately. This play struggles against disciplined zone drops like Tampa 2 or Cover 6 where a linebacker or safety sits in the underneath middle zone and takes away the drag and dig windows. Look for a user-controlled defender lurking in the shallow zone or spying the quarterback, since that threat can jump the shallow drag route and turn it into a turnover if you force the throw.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion with the mountain man to identify man versus zone coverage before the snap, since a defender following the motion confirms man coverage and opens up the deep dig for a big play.
Sell the play-action fake fully by holding the run button momentarily so linebackers bite downhill, which widens the passing window for the deep dig and shallow drag combo.
This play works best on early downs (first or second and medium) when defenses are more likely to respect the run fake and bite on play action.
Pair this play with HB Dive or HB Power O earlier in a drive to establish run tendencies, then dial up Mtn PA Z Slide to punish linebackers and safeties for creeping into the box.
If the defense shows heavy zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4, hot route the shallow drag into a deeper crossing route or check down to the wheel route to attack the seam vacated by the zone drop.
