Playbooks

PA Lead Draw Shot

I Form·Pro·21
DrawPlay ActionPass Play
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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Quick Reference

FormationI Form
SetPro

In 1 playbook

Franchise Offense ShotplaysOffense

Breakdown

PA Lead Draw Shot sells the lead draw fake out of I Form to freeze linebackers before pushing two receivers vertically on a deep shot concept. The fullback leads through the hole on the fake while the offensive line sets up run blocking angles, buying the quarterback time on the play action boot or drop to let the shot routes develop downfield. This is a play-action deep shot play designed to punish zone coverage that bites on run action, with the primary read being the deep outside shot route first, then working back to any intermediate breaking route or check down if the safety takes away the top.

Defensive Reads

Read the safety alignment before the snap, a single high safety shell or safety creeping toward the line of scrimmage is the green light to trust the deep shot route since play action draw fakes are designed to hold that safety. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they step up hard to fill run gaps instead of respecting pass responsibility, the seam and vertical windows behind them open immediately for the shot route. Identify cornerback technique presnap, press man coverage with no safety help over the top is the worst matchup for the defense against this shot concept. Two deep safeties or a Cover 2 or Cover 4 shell with disciplined linebackers sitting in shallow zones will take away the shot route and force you into the checkdown or intermediate option. Be alert for user controlled defenders lurking in the middle of the field or safeties who do not bite on the draw fake, since a smart human defender reading the fullback's initial path can jump the route and create a turnover opportunity.

Usage Tips

Call this on early downs like first or second and short when the defense expects run based on personnel and formation tendencies, since the lead draw fake carries more weight against base fronts. Check the safety depth pre-snap, if you see a single high safety cheating up into the box or linebackers sitting shallow expecting run support, this play has a high hit probability on the deep shot route. Hot route the underneath receiver or tight end into a sit route against zone if you diagnose two deep safeties staying home, giving you a quick answer instead of forcing the deep shot into coverage. Pair this play in sequence with HB Lead Dive, Lead Draw, or FB Dive Fake HB earlier in a series so the defense's linebacker flow and safety depth get conditioned to bite on run action, making the shot route hit for explosive yardage later. Avoid calling this against defenses showing two high safeties presnap unless you have already hot routed a zone beater breaking route, since the shot will be covered from depth.

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