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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
PA FB Sail is a play-action pass out of the Maryland I Close formation with 12 personnel, designed to hold the linebackers with a fake to the fullback before attacking the intermediate and deep zones. Off the fake, one receiver clears out on a deep corner route to the top of the screen while the sail concept underneath features an out breaking route to the flat and a deeper crossing route working from the opposite side, stacking three levels horizontally on the strongside. The blocking scheme keeps the offensive line and remaining backs in to protect the pocket, and this is primarily a Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater since the sail combo stretches the flat defender and hi lo's the deep third or deep half defender. The primary read progression starts with the deep corner route to see if the fake bought time for the shot play, then works down to the sail flat route and crosser underneath if the coverage rotates over the top.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and alignment, two deep safeties suggest Cover 2 or Cover 4 which invites you to attack the flat route hard, while a single high safety signals Cover 3 or man coverage which favors the deep corner route shot. Post-snap, key the flat defender's leverage, if he sinks too deep to cover the sail route the underside flat throw is there immediately for a quick conversion. Watch for a user controlled defender lurking in the shallow crossing lane, aggressive players will jump the underneath crosser expecting the sail concept, so be ready to reset to the corner route if you see that user flash down. This concept struggles against disciplined zone drops from a Cover 4 or Cover 6 shell where the deep defenders sit on the corner route and the flat defender stays shallow, taking away both top and bottom of the sail combo. Man coverage with an inside linebacker matched on the fullback can blow up the play fake timing, so if you see man alignment pre-snap be ready to speed up your read to the deep corner route before the rush arrives.
Usage Tips
Sell the play-action fake by holding the ball on the fullback mesh point for a beat before selecting your target, this manipulates linebacker eyes and slows down flowing zone defenders.
Use this on early downs or in run heavy situational calling since the fullback dive threat from Maryland I makes defenses respect the play fake, especially if you have already run HB Lead Dive or Duo out of this same formation.
Against Cover 3, key the deep third defender to the corner route side, if he opens his hips to run with the corner the sail flat route and crosser underneath will be wide open for a big gain.
Against Cover 2, target the flat route immediately since the cornerback sitting in the flat has to choose between the shallow flat and the deeper sail route, creating a natural conflict read.
Pair this with SFT PA Sprint HB Flat and PA Boot later in a series once the defense starts keying the play fake, this keeps linebackers honest and opens up the same sail concept from a different launch point.
