Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn PA Counter is a play-action pass out of Strong I Y Off Close that sells the counter run action before releasing three routes into the pattern. The play fakes the counter step and then sends the fullback or H-back on a shallow crosser underneath, a receiver on a corner route from the slot into the deep third, and a third target running a deep vertical from the outside alignment. This is a man beater at its core, using the play-action mesh and crossing action to create natural rub separation against man defenders while the deep corner and vertical stretch a two-high shell vertically. Primary read progression starts with the shallow crosser underneath if the linebackers bite hard on the run fake, then works to the intermediate corner route, and finally to the deep vertical shot down the sideline.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth: a two-high shell tells you the corner route and vertical will be the priority shots, while a single-high shell means the shallow crosser is your safety valve against man coverage underneath. Watch linebacker gap discipline post-snap. If the linebackers step up hard on the counter fake, the shallow crosser will be wide open in the vacated middle of the field. Cover 3 with a hard-charging linebacker into the box is vulnerable to this concept since the flat to intermediate area gets stretched by the corner route and crosser combo. Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets beat by the deep vertical route, so identify if the corner is playing outside leverage or inside leverage pre-snap to know if the vertical or corner route wins. Cover 2 shells with disciplined cornerbacks sinking under the corner route can take away the intermediate throw, forcing you to check down to the crosser quickly before the pass rush closes the pocket.
Usage Tips
Sell the counter fake with a full play-action animation, do not rush the drop, since the run action is what opens up the underneath crosser against linebackers.
Use this on early downs like first or second and short to medium yardage when defenses are more likely to load the box expecting HB Blast or Counter Weak.
Check the underneath crosser first against man coverage since the natural pick from the mesh point creates instant separation versus off man or press man defenders.
If you see a two-high safety shell pre-snap, key the deep corner route since it settles in the void between the flat defender and the deep half safety.
Pair this play with HB Blast and Counter Weak earlier in a series so the defense keys run action, then hit this play action shot to punish linebackers and safeties crashing downhill.
