Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
PA Flood out of Pistol Strong Slot Open uses play-action to hold the linebackers before flooding the right side of the field with three levels: a deep vertical route from the inline attachment, a corner-breaking route sitting underneath at the intermediate level, and a flat route from the backfield working underneath both. On the backside, a single receiver runs a comeback-style route while the fullback or blocking back sets up protection to sell the run fake. This is a classic Cover 3 beater that floods one side with three routes to overload a single deep third defender and any underneath zone defenders, with the primary read progressing from the deep corner route down to the flat route based on how the flat defender and deep third safety react.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing a single high safety, this is the biggest indicator of a Cover 3 shell that this flood concept is built to beat. Post-snap, key the flat defender's reaction to the play-action fake, if he steps up on the run fake the flat route will be wide open for an easy completion. Watch the deep third defender on the flood side, if he stays high on the vertical route the corner route sitting underneath becomes the primary window. If the offense sees two safeties staying deep with no rotation, this indicates Cover 2 or Cover 4, which can clog the intermediate corner route and force the quarterback down to the flat. Beware of a user-controlled linebacker sitting in the passing lane of the flat route, since this play's underneath options are vulnerable to a well-timed lurk or spy.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs when you have already established the run game from this same personnel grouping so the play-action fake actually holds linebackers.
Check the deep safety alignment before the snap, if you see a single high safety rotate toward the flood side, work your read to the comeback route on the backside since Cover 3 defenders will be occupied.
Hot route the backside comeback into a deep dig if you diagnose man coverage, this turns the concept into a man beater against Cover 1 or Cover 0 looks.
Pair this call with HB Dive or Inside Zone Split earlier in a series to sell the run fake, then come back to PA Flood once the defense starts creeping linebackers into the box.
Best used on second and medium or third and long situations where defenses are more likely to sit in zone shells that this flood concept is designed to exploit.
