Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Deep In runs from a Pistol Bunch look with play action drawn from the backfield to hold the linebackers, then attacks vertically with three routes from the bunch alongside a checkdown from the backfield. The bunch receivers run a deep in that crosses the field, a corner route breaking outside, and a deep post/vertical splitting the safeties, while the flanker to the boundary runs a comeback and the running back releases into the flat off the fake. This is a play-action deep shot designed to punish man coverage and split zone shells: the deep in is the primary read against man leverage, with the corner and vertical as go-to shots versus single-high safety rotation, and the flat route as the checkdown if the pocket collapses or the defense drops into a deep zone.
Defensive Reads
Identify the pre snap safety shell first: two high safeties tend to leave the deep in throwing lane open across the middle, while single high alignments push you toward the corner or vertical route breaking away from that deep defender. Watch linebacker depth at the snap since shallow linebackers who bite on the run fake will vacate the underneath zone and open the deep in for an easy pitch and catch. Key the cornerback over the bunch for man versus zone tells; if he presses and turns his hips to run with the deep in receiver, that confirms man coverage and tells you to trust the route on a rub or pick. Watch for a user controlled lurk defender sitting in the middle of the field, since that player can undercut the deep in route if the linebackers do not bite on the fake. If the defense shows a heavy blitz look with the corner and safety crashing downhill, get the ball out quickly to the flat route off the fake since the deep routes will not have time to develop.
Usage Tips
Sell the play action fake fully before dropping back so linebackers bite and open the deep in window over the middle. Check safety alignment before the snap; if you see two high safeties, prioritize the deep in since the middle of the field should be more open, but if it is single high, look immediately to the corner or vertical route working away from the deep safety. Use the flat route off the backfield fake as your answer to blitzes since it releases quickly and gives you a built in hot route against pressure. Pair this call with HB Slam or HB Dive earlier in a series so the defense respects the run fake and commits linebackers downhill before you hit them with this shot play. Save this for second and medium or third and long situations where defenses are more likely to sit in zone drops, since the deep in and corner combo stresses zone landmarks and man defenders in coverage alike.
