Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
PA Cross Shot fakes the handoff out of the Pistol Full House Base look before working a deep shot concept off play action. The deep crosser stems from the left wing and works all the way across the field underneath the vertical route that pushes up the numbers, while the outside receiver on the boundary runs a deep comeback back to the quarterback and the blue route on the right side releases flat and up the sideline as a checkdown or high low option. The primary read starts with the vertical shot route on the play fake side, works to the deep crosser sitting down or continuing across the field, and finishes with the flat route as the outlet against a hard blitz or if the shot never opens.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth immediately after the snap, if they bite hard on the run fake the deep crosser will have a soft window to work through the middle of the field. Identify single high safety shells pre-snap since that alignment leaves the vertical shot route on an island against man coverage on the outside. Key the flat defender or slot corner, if he sinks with the crosser instead of covering the flat route the checkdown becomes wide open. Against cover 3 or cover 4 with deep zone defenders sitting on verticals, expect the shot route to be contested and prioritize the crosser working underneath the coverage. Watch for a user linebacker spying the crosser or dropping into a lurk zone in the middle of the field, this is the biggest threat to shut down the primary read on this concept.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs when defenses expect run out of the heavy 21 personnel and Full House backfield, since the play fake sells hardest against linebackers stepping up.
Check the safety alignment before the snap, a single high safety cheating late means the vertical shot route on the left has a one on one window against man coverage.
Hot route the flat route on the right into a quick out or speed out if you see cover 2 corners sitting outside to bait the comeback route into a jump.
Pair this with HB Slam or Wing HB Dive earlier in a drive so the play fake freezes second level defenders and opens the crosser against man beaters.
Avoid throwing into the deep comeback against zone shells with a corner sitting at the sticks, work the crosser or flat instead since the comeback has a tight throwing window.
