Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 18 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Mtn Power is a play-action pass out of Strong I Wing that sells the Power O run fake before attacking downfield. Off the fake, the backside X runs a deep vertical from the outside while the TY (or wing) releases outside then breaks into a corner route up the sideline, and the slot receiver runs a shallow crosser underneath into the flat as the checkdown. This is a man beater designed to hit play-action shots off run fear, with the primary read progression going deep out route or corner first, then working down to the vertical if the safety jumps the corner, and finally checking down to the flat route if both are covered.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and alignment since a single-high safety cheating up to stop the run is the green light to take the corner or vertical shot. Watch the strong side linebacker and see if he steps up on the run fake, because a linebacker who bites opens up the shallow crosser for an easy underneath completion. Post-snap, key the flat defender or nickel defender's zone drop, if he sinks with the crosser the quarterback should climb the progression to the deeper outside routes instead. This play struggles against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells that keep two safeties deep, since both the corner and vertical routes run into a squeezed sideline with a safety over the top. Beware disguised blitzes off the edge, since the play-action fake holds the offensive line and running back in for a beat, making a delayed blitz or user-controlled defender crashing the edge a real threat to the quarterback.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs or in run-heavy sequences after you have established Power O and HB Blast so linebackers and safeties bite on the play-action fake.
Pre-snap, look for single-high shells since the corner route and vertical both attack a two-deep or one-high safety who has to respect the run first.
If you see man coverage with no safety help over the top, prioritize the corner route breaking outside since it is the fastest way to separation against a trailing corner.
Use hot routes to convert the shallow crosser into a quick option against zone if you diagnose Cover 3 or Cover 4 post-snap, since that route sits underneath zone drops.
Pair this play with Mtn Power O and HB Blast Alert X Smoke in the same series so the defense has to respect the run fake every time you come back to this shot play.
