Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Ctr Waggle is a play-action pass out of Pistol Ace Double Wing that sells inside zone or dive action before the quarterback rolls out to the boot side. Off the fake, three receivers release into a deep out and flood package: the outside receiver runs a deep corner/go route, the tight end or wing runs a delayed out that sits at intermediate depth, and the backside receiver runs a shallow drag/flat route on the opposite side to hold backside pursuit. The primary read progression starts with the deep corner route as the vertical shot, works down to the intermediate out sitting behind the linebackers, and checks down to the flat route if the pocket collapses or the flood is covered underneath, making this an effective man and zone beater depending on which window opens.
Defensive Reads
Read the linebacker depth immediately after the snap. If they bite hard on the run fake and flow toward the line, the intermediate out and deep corner will have wide throwing lanes. Zone coverage with shallow linebacker drops will squeeze the intermediate out, so look to the deep corner route working over the top instead. Man coverage on the outside receiver with no safety help over the top is the green light for the deep corner route, since it attacks the sideline away from underneath defenders. Watch for a user-controlled defender spying the quarterback on the boot side, since that lurk threat can jump the intermediate out or bait a throw into a shorter completion. Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells with disciplined zone drops shut this play down by taking away both the flood underneath and the vertical shot, forcing a checkdown to the flat route.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs or manageable third downs when the defense expects run action from the Double Wing personnel, since the play-action sell depends on defenders respecting the run fake.
Check the safety alignment pre-snap. Two-high shells with soft corners favor the deep corner route, while single-high looks with aggressive corners mean you should progress quicker to the intermediate out.
Use the boot side rollout to buy extra time against edge pressure, and if the defense brings a nano blitz off that edge, get the ball out fast to the flat route on the backside.
Pair this with HB Dive or Split Zone from the same set to condition the defense to bite on run action, then hit them with the waggle once linebackers start flowing hard downhill.
Hot route the backside flat receiver deeper into a drag against man coverage if you need a true crosser to beat man-to-man leverage on the backside.
