Playbooks
Breakdown
PA Deep In from Pistol Doubles Y Off is a play-action pass off a run fake designed to attack downfield with a deep in breaking route as the focal point. Off the play fake, the outside receiver to the boundary runs a deep in that crosses the field at depth, while both the slot receiver to that side and the backside outside receiver push vertical seams to stretch the deep defenders, and the tight end or slot to the strong side runs an out to the flat. The primary read progression starts with the deep in coming across the middle, then works to the vertical routes if a safety jumps the in-cut, and the flat route to the boundary side underneath as a checkdown against pressure or a soft zone drop.
Defensive Reads
Pre snap identify whether the safeties are showing two high or rotating to one high, since a single high shell tells you the deep in route has a bigger throwing window over the middle. Watch the flow of the linebackers after the snap, if they bite hard on the run fake you get a clean lane to the deep in before the underneath defenders can recover. Key the corner over the deep in route, if he sits in a hard outside shade or press look he can jump the route early and turn it into a bad read, so be ready to work the vertical stem to the backside as a bailout. This concept struggles against zone blitzes where the underneath defenders drop into the deep in lane after showing pressure, so if you see a delayed rush or extra defenders dropping into the middle of the field, get the ball out to the flat route quickly. Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells with two deep safeties can squeeze the deep in throwing window, so look for the safety to the throwing side sinking into that area before committing to the primary read.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or in second and medium situations where the defense expects run based on personnel and pistol alignment. Check for single high safety shells before the snap because the deep in route will sit right in the void left behind a Cover 3 or Cover 1 rotation. Hot route the flat runner into a quick out or drag if you see man coverage with no underneath help to give yourself a rhythm throw against blitz looks. Pair this call with HB Dive or HB Zone earlier in a series so the play fake actually holds linebackers and the safety, then dial up PA Deep In once the defense starts crashing down on run keys. If the CPU or opponent starts jumping the deep in with a linebacker spy or shallow zone, switch to Four Verticals or PA Slot Cross from this same set to keep them honest without changing formation tendencies.
