Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
PA Power O sells the HB Power O run fake out of Pistol Weak I Wing before the QB pulls it back for a three man vertical route concept. The red route is a deep post out of the backfield or slot that clears the middle of the field, the blue route is a wheel or flat to deep out route on the outside that stretches the sideline, and the yellow route is a dig or hook breaking route from the opposite side that sits in the intermediate zone. This is a play action shot play designed to punish aggressive run defense and linebackers who bite on the Power O fake, with the primary read progression starting at the deep red post for an explosive shot, working to the blue vertical breaking route on the boundary if the post is covered, and checking down to the yellow crossing route as the underneath outlet.
Defensive Reads
Watch the safety alignment before the snap, single high shells are vulnerable to the red post since there is only one defender protecting the deep middle. If linebackers are sitting at normal run fit depth instead of showing blitz or immediate pass drop, expect them to flow toward the Power O fake and vacate the intermediate zone for the yellow breaking route. Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with two deep safeties can take away the red post but often leave the blue outside route in a soft spot against the flat defender. Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets exposed by the blue vertical breaking route if the corner bites on the play fake or gets beat off the release. User controlled defenders sitting in a lurk position over the middle can jump the red post route, so check if the human is spying that shallow crossing lane before committing to the first read.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs like first or second and short to medium yardage so the run fake actually holds the defense honest.
Check the linebacker depth before the snap, if they are stacked tight to the line expecting HB Power O they will bite on the fake and open up the deep red post.
Use HB Power O and Counter Weak earlier in a series to condition the defense into keying run action before dialing up this shot play.
Hot route the yellow breaking route into a deeper dig if you see zone coverage sinking underneath, since the shallow break can get squeezed by linebackers in shorter zone drops.
Against man coverage, prioritize the blue outside route since it has room to win against a trailing corner, and against zone shells prioritize the red post since it exploits the seam vacated by the run fake.
