Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Strong Flow out of the Near Close set (21 personnel) is a play-action pass that opens with a strong flow run fake to hold the linebackers before releasing three routes into the pattern. The X receiver runs a deep vertical up the numbers, the TE or slot runs a corner route breaking outside off a vertical stem, and the flanker runs a shallow flat route underneath. This is a play-action zone beater designed to attack linebackers who bite on the run fake, and the primary read progression starts with the corner route as the first read against the vacated flat zone, working down to the flat route as the checkdown and the deep vertical as the home run shot if the safety bites on run action.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing a single high safety or two-high shell, since this play is built to exploit single high looks that commit extra defenders to the run fake. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they step up hard on the flow fake you get a clean throwing lane to the corner route and flat route combo underneath. Key the flat defender, in zone coverage he has to choose between the flat route and sinking under the corner route, creating a natural conflict you can exploit with timing. Cover 3 with an aggressive flat defender and Cover 1 man with linebackers biting on run action are the shells this beats most consistently. Two-high safety shells and disciplined Cover 4 that keep defenders deep regardless of the run fake will take away the vertical and corner routes, forcing you into the flat route as a limited gain.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs, first or second and short to medium, when the run fake has maximum credibility off your run tendencies in the drive chart.
Check the safety depth pre-snap, if you see a single high safety cheating up or linebackers stacked tight to the box, the play action freeze is live and the corner route should come open fast.
Use the flat route as your quick outlet against blitz-heavy fronts, it releases fast and gives you a built in answer if the corner route window closes.
Pair this call with FB Dive and HB Inside earlier in a series so the defense keys run first, then hit PA Strong Flow once linebackers start creeping downhill on flow reads.
Hot route the deep vertical receiver to a comeback if you are facing a two-high shell that stays deep, since the corner and flat routes alone may not create enough separation against soft zone.
