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Breakdown
PA Comeback out of Pistol Trips shows a play-action fake to the backfield with four vertical stem routes that break late. The backside X runs a comeback that settles hard back toward the sideline, the two inside trips receivers push vertical seams, and the outside trips receiver runs a deep vertical to stretch the defense. This is a man beater built around the comeback breaking away from trailing corners and the verticals occupying the deep defenders, with the primary read progression starting on the backside comeback route before working into the trips side seams.
Defensive Reads
Watch the backside cornerback leverage before the snap, if he is playing tight man with no help over the top the comeback route can separate cleanly on the break. Key the strong safety rotation after the snap, if he stays home in the box against the run fake it opens up the seam routes in trips. Look for linebackers biting on the play-action, aggressive run fits from the second level create natural throwing windows in the intermediate area. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender can undercut the comeback break, so check the flat defender depth and leverage before committing to that throw. Man coverage with underneath lurk defenders sitting in the throwing lane is the biggest threat to this concept, if you see a defender sitting on the comeback route path check down to the shorter routes instead.
Usage Tips
Take a pre-snap look at the safeties before the snap because a single high shell tells you the comebacks should sit down in soft zones or ahead of trailing man corners.
Sell the play-action fake fully by holding the ball at the mesh point so linebackers step up and open passing lanes for the seam runners in trips.
Hot route the inside trips receiver to a hitch or shallow drag against zone shells if the linebackers are sinking too deep and clogging the seams.
Use this on second and medium or third and short to long since the comeback timing and vertical stress punish both man and zone drops.
Pair this with Curl Flat or Stick from the same set to keep defenses guessing between quick game and the deeper comeback shot, then mix in HB Dive or HB Zone Wk to sell the run fake even harder.
