Playbooks

PA Stretch Shot

Pistol·Y Off Trips·11

Quick Reference

FormationPistol

In 2 playbooks

Broncos OffenseOffenseNFL Live Broncos OffenseOffense

Breakdown

PA Stretch Shot is a shot play off play-action out of the Pistol Y Off Trips set that sells the outside zone stretch run before pushing vertical routes downfield. The fake stretch action pulls the second and third level defenders up, opening seams and deep shots against overaggressive run fits. This is a man and zone beater built around the deep passing game, with the primary read starting on the backside shot route (usually a go or seam) before working to the intermediate crosser or dig underneath as the checkdown progression.

Defensive Reads

Watch for linebackers stepping up hard into the run fit at the snap, this confirms the defense respects the stretch action and opens the vertical shot window. Identify single high safety alignment pre-snap since Cover 1 and Cover 3 shells are the most vulnerable to the deep shot route once the fake freezes the second level. Key the cornerback leverage on the shot route side, outside leverage means the route wins over the top while inside leverage signals a possible sit-and-jump technique. Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells with safeties staying deep will not bite on the fake, in this case look to the intermediate crosser or dig as the primary answer. User-controlled defenders sitting in a lurk or spy near the box can jump the underlying crossing route, so track the user player and be ready to reset to the backside shot if he commits.

Usage Tips

Use this play on early downs (first and ten, second and short) when the defense has shown run blitz or heavy box looks on tape to maximize the play-action sell.

Check safety depth pre-snap: if you see a single high safety cheating toward the trips side, target the backside shot route away from help.

If the defense shows Cover 2 or Cover 4 shell, hot route your inline TE or backside receiver into a deep comeback or sit route to beat the corner sitting on the shot route.

Pair this play with HB Stretch and HB Wide Zone Wk earlier in a drive so the defense keys run action and bites on the fake, setting up the shot play for a chunk gain.

Avoid calling this on obvious passing downs since the run fake loses its effectiveness when the defense sits in coverage and reads the pistol run action.

Other Plays in Y Off Trips