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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Mtn YZ-Choice out of Singleback Toad X Nasty is a play-action mountain concept built around an option route from the Y (TE) that reads the underneath defender and breaks in or out accordingly. Both outside receivers run vertical seam routes up the numbers to stretch the deep coverage and clear space underneath, while the backside receiver runs a shallow drag underneath everything to hold linebackers and give a quick outlet. The choice route from the slot is the primary read, with the drag serving as the checkdown if the choice route is covered.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high versus two high safety shells since single high leaves the choice route defender with less deep help over the top. Watch linebacker depth before the snap, shallow linebackers show blitz or man responsibility while deeper drops signal zone that the choice route is designed to exploit. Post-snap, key the flow of the middle linebacker on the choice route, if he sinks and sits the route should break away from him, if he steps up the route should settle behind him. This concept struggles against a sim pressure look with a spy or lurk defender sitting exactly in the choice route window, since that user defender can jump the option route before the break happens. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender squatting on the drag route can bait a bad checkdown throw, so progress through the choice route fully before working down to the underneath drag.
Usage Tips
Snap read the middle linebacker or nickel defender before the snap to see if he is sitting in the choice route's landing spot, since that tells you whether to expect the option route to break in or out.
Use this play on second and medium or third and short since the choice route is designed to settle into open grass against zone drops and win quick against man coverage.
If you see man coverage with no safety help over the choice route defender, hot route the choice route to a hard out or in break to speed up the timing and beat the defender before help arrives.
Pair this play with Mtn Z-choice or Mtn Double Outs earlier in a series so the defense has to respect multiple option route breaks, then come back to YZ-Choice when they start jumping the shallow drag.
Against aggressive user linebackers who key the drag route, look immediately to the choice route since the drag will be taken away but the middle of the field opens up.
