Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn PA Cross is a play-action pass out of Singleback Wing 12 personnel that sells run action before releasing a deep crossing route package. The TE lined up outside runs a deep vertical up the numbers while the inline TE (or wing) runs a deep crosser from one side of the formation all the way across the field, and the backside receiver runs a shallow cross underneath. The HB stays in to chip and check release before working to the flat, giving the quarterback a layered crossing combo with a vertical clear-out on one side. Primary read progression starts with the deep crosser working across the field, then works down to the underneath shallow cross, and checks down to the HB late if both are covered.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high versus two high safety shells. Single high with the safety cheating toward the vertical route signals a coverage rotation to the crosser side, so the underneath shallow cross becomes the better answer. Watch linebacker depth at the snap. If the second and third level defenders step up hard on the run fake, they will be late to the crossing routes and this play should hit for a big gain. Man coverage with no safety help over the top of the vertical route is where this play shines the most since the crosser will have a natural rub or pick against man defenders trying to trail across the field. Cover 3 with a hard flowing linebacker to the flat can undercut the shallow cross, so look for a sitting middle linebacker or a spy dropping into that shallow window as a sign to hold the ball and climb the progression to the deep crosser. Beware of user-controlled defenders sitting in the shallow cross lane or lurking the deep crosser route since a disciplined human defender can jump the throwing lane if the quarterback locks onto the first read too quickly.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs (1st and 10 or 2nd and short) when you have already established the run game with plays like HB Dive or Mtn HB Slam from this same formation, since the play action fake needs defenders biting downhill to be effective.
Check the safety alignment before the snap. Two deep safeties sitting still or creeping up is a green light since the deep crosser will have room to work behind the linebackers and in front of the safeties.
Use the vertical route from the outside TE as a clear-out against man coverage. If you see man alignment on that TE with no safety help over the top, consider hot routing him to keep pushing vertical to hold the safety and open up the crosser underneath.
Against zone shells, key the underneath linebackers. If they sink hard with the play action fake, the shallow cross sitting underneath becomes the fastest access throw before the deep crosser fully clears.
Pair this with Close PA Cross or Mtn PA Boot in the same set to keep the defense guessing between different crossing angles and boot direction off similar run action, which forces linebackers to hesitate on their run fits.
