Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Verticals out of Shotgun Box Offset Wk sells a play-action fake to the backfield before releasing four vertical stems up the field, with the outside receivers and the seam runner all pushing straight downfield while a shallow drag underneath crosses the formation as a checkdown. The offensive line sets a run blocking look at the snap to hold the fake, then transitions to pass pro as the routes stretch the field horizontally and vertically. This is a classic Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater built to overload the deep safeties, with the primary read progression starting on the single receiver vertical to the play side, moving to the seam or slot vertical if the safety bites on the fake, and finishing with the underneath drag as the checkdown against a hard blitz or bracket coverage.
Defensive Reads
Key the safeties before the snap, if both are backpedaling at the snap without biting on the run fake, this play struggles against a sound Cover 2 shell. Watch the play side cornerback's leverage, if he is playing outside shade with no safety help over the top, the vertical route to that side wins immediately in man coverage. Track linebacker depth at the snap, shallow linebackers who step up on the play-action fake open a throwing lane on the seam vertical route. User-controlled defenders dropping into a deep middle lurk zone can undercut the seam route, so be ready to work the numbers vertical or the drag underneath if that user closes the middle. Beware a delayed blitz off the edge, since the play design relies on the offensive line holding run blocks momentarily before transitioning to pass protection, extra rushers can beat that transition before routes fully develop.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs (first or second and short to medium) when the defense is showing run support to sell the play-action fake convincingly.
Pre-snap, look for two deep safeties splitting the field evenly, that alignment tells you Cover 2 is live and the seams will be open behind the linebackers.
If you see a single high safety walked deep in the middle of the field, expect Cover 3 and target the vertical route that isolates the deep third defender with the least help.
Hot route the underneath drag into a quick option or spot route if the defense shows an obvious blitz look, giving your quarterback an outlet before the seven-step drop develops.
Pair this play with HB Draw or Inside Zone earlier in a series so the defense keys run action, then hit them with PA Verticals to cash in on aggressive linebacker and safety flow.
