Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 11 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Spot out of the I Form Wing set opens with a play-action fake to sell the run before the quarterback works the pass concept. Off the play fake, the play shows a corner route from the outside receiver stretching the deep defender vertically, a flat route breaking underneath from the inline receiver, a slot route running a hitch/curl in the short middle marked as the number one read, and a deep dig or square-in crossing from the backside receiver working underneath the corner route. This is a Cover 3 beater built to attack the seam and flat void left by the deep third defenders, with the number one read designed to sit down in the zone hole before working to the flat or corner as the progression develops.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high versus two high safety shells since Cover 3 with a single deep safety is what this concept is designed to punish. Watch linebacker depth at the snap. If they crash hard on the play-action fake, the number one route in the shallow zone will be wide open immediately. Track the flat defender post-snap since a defender who sinks with the corner route leaves the underneath flat uncovered for an easy checkdown. Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets exposed by the corner route, so look for a cornerback playing off leverage as a sign man beaters like the corner will win. Disguised blitzes that show blitz then bail into zone can bait the quarterback into holding the ball too long, so recognize delayed zone drops from second level defenders before committing to the deep read.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or third and short to keep the play-action threat believable against run-heavy defensive tendencies.
Check the safety alignment pre-snap. Two deep safeties shading toward the corner route side signals Cover 2 or Cover 4, which pushes your progression toward the flat and the number one route instead.
Hot route the flat receiver into a quicker out if you see aggressive linebacker flow toward the play fake, since that flat route is your safety valve against overplayed run fits.
Pair this with HB Lead or HB Zone Toss earlier in a series so the linebackers and safeties start biting on the run fake, then hit PA Spot to punish that aggression.
Progress read the number one route first since it sits in the shortest throw window, then climb to the corner route if the cornerback bails deep, and use the crossing route as your answer versus man coverage rotations.
