Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA FB Flat runs off an I Form Tight play-action fake, holding the linebackers with the run threat before the QB pulls back to pass. Off the fake, the fullback (blue route) leaks out to the flat as the checkdown, one outside receiver runs a deep vertical (red) up the sideline, and the backside receiver works a drag across the field before turning it upfield into a corner/flag route (olive). This is a play-action pass designed to attack aggressive run defense and linebackers who bite on the fake, with the primary read progression going from the deep vertical shot first, down to the drag/corner combo, and finally to the fullback in the flat as the safety valve.
Defensive Reads
Watch for linebacker depth at the snap: if they crash hard on the play-action fake, the drag route and flat route will be wide open underneath. Key the deep safety pre-snap; a single high safety leaves the vertical route in a one-on-one matchup that favors the offense if the corner bites on the run fake. Post-snap, track any user-controlled defender dropping into a lurk position over the drag route, since that is the most common way defenses take away the intermediate crosser. If the defense shows Cover 2 or Cover 4 with two deep safeties, expect the vertical route to be capped, so prioritize the drag and flat combo instead. Beware of a fullback spy or edge blitzer keying the flat immediately, which signals a blitz package designed to erase the checkdown and force a hurried throw.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs (1st and 10 or 2nd and short) when you have already established the run game with HB Dive, HB Lead, or HB Blast so linebackers respect the fake and bite up.
Check the safety alignment pre-snap: if you see a single high safety or the strong safety creeping into the box, that is your green light to test the deep vertical route on the outside.
If the defense shows two deep safeties (zone shell), work the drag route across the middle since it will find soft spots between zone defenders sitting underneath.
Hot route the fullback to release quicker versus man coverage if a linebacker is spying, since the flat route is your built-in man beater against blitz-happy defenses.
Sequence this play after running HB Toss or FB Dive a few times in a drive to sell the run action, then catch aggressive defenders flowing hard downhill with this play-action shot.
