Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Sprint HB Flat is a play-action sprintout pass out of the I Form Wing set with 22 personnel. Off the fake, the QB rolls right behind a blue flat route from the backfield, while the flanker runs a deep corner route from the boundary and the TE/wing runs a deep dig that breaks into a corner-post up the seam, and the slot defender releases on a shallow drag underneath. This is a play-action sprintout designed to attack zone coverage on the move, with the flat route as the primary quick read and the two vertical routes stacking the deep third behind it, giving the QB a high low progression from flat to dig to corner.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat and curl zone defenders at the snap since sprintout action often pulls them up on the play fake, opening the flat route for an easy pitch and catch. Key the corner over the flanker's deep corner route, if he sinks with the play fake the deep shot to the corner or dig behind him is there. Man coverage with no safety help over the top on the sprintout side gets exposed by the dig route sitting down in the void behind underneath defenders. Watch for a linebacker spy or contain defender staying home on the edge, since that shuts down the sprintout QB run threat and forces a quicker throw. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender squatting on the route can jump the throw, so read his depth before committing to the flat as your first option.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs after establishing HB Lead or HB Inside Zone so the play action freeze actually holds linebackers and safeties.
Presnap, identify single high shells since the sprintout puts the QB on the boundary edge away from a deep half defender, giving you an easy throw to the flat or drag if the corner route is capped.
If you see man coverage, hot route the flat defender into a quick out or option route to beat aggressive flat corners jumping the route.
On third and short, live with the flat throw immediately off the play fake since the roll action buys time and forces the edge defender to respect contain.
Pair this with Mtn PA Sprint HB Flat and PA Boot Flow in your play calling sequence so the defense cannot key on the roll direction based on formation alone.
