Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Mtn Power Shot is a play-action shot play out of Strong I Wing Close that sells the power run look before attacking the deep middle of the field. The diagram shows one receiver stemming off the line with a deep post cutting hard toward the middle of the field, an inside receiver running a quick out to the flat as a checkdown, and an underneath crosser working from the backside to the frontside as a shallow drag. The frontside of the line shows down blocks combining with a puller stepping outside, holding the run fake before the quarterback rolls into pass protection. This is a play-action man beater designed to hit the post over the top of an aggressive box, with the primary read progression starting on the deep post, working down to the crossing route underneath, and checking to the flat route as the last resort.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high versus two high safety shells, since two high defenses take away the post shot and force you to check down to the drag or flat route. Watch linebacker depth and run fits: if the linebackers step up hard on the play-action fake, the middle of the field opens up for the post and the crosser both. Post-snap, key any user-controlled defender lurking in the middle of the field or sitting on the deep crosser, since a rat linebacker or deep zone defender can jump the post route and turn it into a pick six. This play struggles against zone shells like Cover 2 or Cover 3 that keep a safety deep in the middle, so if you see that shell pre-snap consider checking to a quicker route or a different play entirely. Man coverage with an aggressive blitz package is where this play shines, since the play-action fake occupies extra defenders and the post beats trailing man coverage over the top before help can arrive.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs like first or second and short when the defense has shown run blitz or heavy box counts to sell the fake convincingly.
Check the safety alignment before the snap: if you see a single high safety cheating toward the strong side or creeping into the box, this post has a clean lane to hit for a big shot play.
Motion pre-snap if available to identify man versus zone, since a defender following the motion man confirms man coverage and tells you the post has a legitimate one on one matchup down the field.
Hold contain awareness on the play-action fake by not snapping to the post immediately, let the linebackers commit to the run fake for a beat so the deep route has time to separate.
Pair this shot play with Mtn Power O and Mtn Double Slant in the same set so the defense has to respect the run fake every time, making the shot far more effective once you have established tendencies with actual power runs.
