Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn PA Power O is a play-action shot play off the Power O run fake out of Singleback Wing Tight U, using pre-snap motion to disguise intent and simulate the HB Power O look before the QB pulls and throws downfield. The diagram shows three verticals stacked to the same side: an out-breaking corner route (yellow) that angles up and out, a deep post-corner/vertical route (red) climbing straight up from the tight end alignment, and a shallow cross underneath (light blue) that drags from the backfield across the formation for a checkdown or man beater outlet. The primary read progression works high to low, starting with the deep vertical/corner combo on the play side before working down to the crossing drag as the outlet against pressure or if the deep shots are covered.
Defensive Reads
Key the play-side linebacker and strong safety flow at the snap. If they bite hard on the run fake and lose depth, the deep corner and vertical routes will have a clean throwing lane. Identify single-high safety shells before the snap since this play is designed to isolate the corner route against a defender without deep help, making it a strong man beater versus Cover 1 and Cover 3. Watch for a nickel or slot defender sitting in a shallow zone drop. That defender is the biggest threat to the underneath drag route and can jump the route if the QB stares it down too long. Against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells, the deep routes will be squeezed by two-high safety help, so be ready to check down to the drag quickly rather than forcing the shot. Look out for a blitz off the edge on the play-action fake, since the extra rush defenders crashing downhill on the run look can beat the protection before the deep routes develop, forcing an early checkdown read.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs (1st and 10 or 2nd and short) when defenses are keying run based on personnel and the Power O tag, since the play-action freeze on linebackers is most effective when run tendencies are established.
Watch pre-snap safety depth. If both safeties are at 10-12 yards or deeper, the shell is likely two-high and the crossing drag becomes your best answer since the deep shots will be capped.
If the defense shows single-high with the strong safety creeping toward the box, expect man coverage or a run blitz look, which is when the deep corner and vertical routes have the best chance to win against inside leverage.
Hot route the drag route into a deeper dig or comeback if you see a linebacker spy sitting underneath, since a shallow zone dropper will sit right on that route and take away the checkdown.
Pair this with Mtn HB Power O and HB Power O in your play-calling sequence early in a series to sell the run fake, then come back to this shot play once the defense starts flowing hard to the play side on the ground game.
