Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn Zone Weak is a play-action zone beater out of Strong I Y Open Flex with 21 personnel that uses motion to shift the backfield look before the snap. Both outside receivers run vertical seams up the numbers to stretch the deep zone defenders, while the three inside receivers work a mesh of short crossing routes underneath, with one runner sitting on a curl and another cutting across the middle on a short drag. The tight end or slot back to the flat side runs a quick out or flat route as a check-down against zone drops. The primary read progression starts with the two verticals against the deep safeties, then works down to the underneath crossers and finally to the flat route if the zone sits deep.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and alignment since two deep safeties usually signal Cover 2 or Cover 4, which invites a sit route or comeback against the soft corner. Watch how the defense reacts to the motion man, because a linebacker or defensive back following him across the formation is a strong man coverage indicator and tells the user defender to jump the shallow crosser. Post-snap, key the flow of the underneath linebackers, since Mtn Zone Weak is designed to exploit late zone drops and any hesitation from the second level defenders opens the shallow crossing routes immediately. If the defense shows a nano blitz or heavy pressure look before the snap, expect the quick flat route or hot underneath crosser to be the answer against the blitz since the deep verticals take too long to develop. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender can squeeze the crossing routes, so recognize when a cornerback sinks into the shallow zone and be ready to climb the progression to the vertical seam instead.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify whether the defense is playing man or zone before the snap, since a defender following the motion man confirms man coverage and tells you to peek at the shallow crosser for a natural pick.
Against Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells, target the two vertical routes on the outside because they occupy the deep thirds or quarters and open a soft spot for the underneath crossers behind the linebackers.
If the defense shows two high safeties pre-snap, hot route one of the verticals into a comeback or hitch to attack the intermediate void that Cover 2 corners leave underneath.
Pair this play with HB Dive or Inside Zone out of the same set so the defense has to respect the run fake, which slows down linebacker zone drops and widens throwing lanes for the crossers.
Call this on second and medium to long distance when you expect a zone shell, since the layered verticals and crossers give you multiple answers if the defense mixes zone with a delayed blitz.
