Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn Cheat WR Out uses pre-snap motion to shift the cheated receiver across the formation before the snap, creating a clean out route breaking toward the sideline from the slot. The backside X runs a vertical clear route up the seam to hold the deep safety and open the underside for the out, while the shallow crosser underneath sits down in the flat area near the numbers as a checkdown option. This is a man beater at its core, since the motion forces the defense to declare man or zone and the out route is designed to sit down in the void created by defenders trapped inside, with the primary read progression going vertical clear first to see if it pulls the safety, then out route as the main target, then the underneath crosser as the checkdown.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense rotates a defender to follow the motion man, this confirms man coverage and tells you the out route will have a favorable matchup. Check safety depth before the snap, a single high safety cheating toward the vertical clear route opens the out route underneath for an easy completion. Post-snap, watch for a user controlled defender lurking in the shallow flat, this is the biggest threat to the underneath crosser and can bait an interception if you force that throw. Look for zone drops from linebackers, if they sink hard to cover the shallow crosser the out route window opens wider against a Cover 3 or Cover 4 shell. Nano blitzes and disguised pressure up front can rush the quarterback before the out route develops, so identify blitz alignment pre-snap and be ready to hot route the offensive line or check down quickly.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to bait linebackers and safeties into showing their hand, if a defender follows the motion man across the formation you know you are facing man coverage and can throw the out with anticipation.
Attack this concept on second and medium or third and short since the out route timing is quick and gets the ball out before pressure arrives.
Hot route the underneath crosser into a spot route against zone heavy shells so it settles into the soft area vacated by flowing linebackers.
Pair this play with Mtn Cheat WR Comeback and Mtn Cheat WR Wheel in the same set so the defense cannot key on the out route based on motion alone, keeping linebackers honest.
Watch for a cornerback sinking into a hard outside shell pre-snap, that alignment signals a possible jump on the out route so be ready to layer the throw or check to the vertical clear route instead.
