Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn PA X Zig Flood is a play-action flood concept out of Singleback Wing Pair Heavy that overloads one side of the field with three levels of routes. Off the run fake, the X receiver runs a deep zig that cuts across the field, a TE or wing runs a corner route breaking outside at intermediate depth, and a third route works underneath toward the flat area, creating a classic high low low flood read. This is a Cover 3 beater designed to stress a single deep third defender and the flat defender by stacking three receivers into their landmarks on the same side, with the primary read progressing from the deep zig first, down to the corner breaking route, and finally checking down to the underneath flat option if the deep shots are covered.
Defensive Reads
Presnap, identify single high safety looks and check corner depth, if the corner is sitting shallow expecting quick game, the deep zig has a clear window behind him. Post snap, key the flat defender or curl to flat linebacker, if he sinks underneath the corner route that opens the throwing lane for the deep zig crosser. Watch for a user controlled defender lurking in the underneath zone, since that defender can take away the checkdown flat route and force you to hold the ball longer. This concept struggles against Cover 4 or two high shells where the safety can rotate over the top of the zig route, and it can be shut down by a well timed zone blitz that drops a linebacker into the flat while bringing extra pressure off the edge. If you see man coverage with the corner turning his back to run with the zig, expect the underneath route to be the quicker answer against a blitz look.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or second and medium when defenses are showing Cover 3 or single high safety shells presnap. Look at the corner and safety alignment before the snap, if the corner is playing deep with outside leverage and the safety is rotating to the opposite hash, the zig route from the X will have room to work behind the flat defender. Use play action here on run heavy downs to hold linebackers and freeze the second level, since the run fake sells better against aggressive front seven tendencies. If the flat defender jumps the underneath route, hit the corner route sitting behind him for a chunk gain. Pair this play with Mtn Power O or 26 Duo earlier in a series to set up the run fake, then dial up Mtn PA X Zig Flood once the defense starts keying run to the strong side.
