Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Comeback Flood is a play-action pass out of the Pistol Full House that fakes the handoff before flooding one side of the field with three levels of routes. Off the fake, the outside receiver runs a deep vertical up the sideline, the slot or tight end works a comeback route breaking back to the sticks at intermediate depth, and a third route flattens out to the flat, creating a high low read that stretches a cornerback and flat defender simultaneously. The backside receiver runs a solo go route to hold the single safety, making this fundamentally a Cover 3 beater built to stack routes vertically on one side and force the flat defender to choose between the comeback and the flat.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high safety shells like Cover 3 or Cover 1, since this route concept is designed specifically to attack the flat defender and hole in three deep zone coverage. Watch the flat defender's depth at the snap: if he sits too deep expecting the comeback, the flat route is open immediately for a quick, safe completion. Key the cornerback's cushion on the comeback route, since off man coverage or soft zone corners get baited into biting on the vertical stem before the receiver breaks back. User a lurking linebacker or nickel defender to sit in the throwing lane between the comeback and flat routes to bait a bad read from the quarterback. This play struggles against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with two deep safeties, since the deep vertical route gets capped and the comeback sits in a defender's zone with no space to work.
Usage Tips
Sell the run fake by letting the animation play out fully before your first read, since Full House alignment makes linebackers bite hard on the play-action.
Your primary progression is comeback to flat, so start reading the flat defender: if he sinks under the comeback throw it to the flat, if he jumps the flat throw the comeback route.
Use this on early downs or second and medium when defenses expect run out of the Full House personnel, since the run fake carries more weight and freezes linebackers longer.
Check the deep vertical on the flooded side as a shot play if the cornerback bites on the comeback route or if you see a single high safety rotate away from the flood.
Pair this with Counter Lead and HB Off Tackle from the same set to keep defenses honest against the run, then hit them with PA Comeback Flood once they start creeping linebackers up.
