Playbooks
Depth-chart slots are shown as they line up in the base package for this set.
| Player | Side | Route |
|---|---|---|
| HB1 | Right | Pass Block |
| WR3 | Right | Drag |
| WR1 | Left | Deep Post |
| WR2 | Right | Deep Cross |
| TE1 | Right | Block and Release Flat |
PA Bunch Shot is a play-action shot play out of the Bunch HB Str set in Shotgun 11 personnel that uses the tight bunch alignment to create natural rub releases against man coverage while stressing deep zone defenders vertically. The play-action fake from the HB freezes linebackers and pulls up safeties, opening throwing lanes for the deep shots developing out of the bunch. Your primary read starts with the deep route breaking off the bunch concept, then works down to the intermediate crosser or sit route underneath if the safety jumps the top route.
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing two high safeties or single high, two high shells will force you to check down while single high tells you the deep shot is live. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they bite hard on the play-action fake it confirms man or zone underneath and opens the window for the intermediate route. Post-snap, key the flow of the safety over the bunch, if he stays flat footed instead of rotating over the top he cannot help on the deep route and the shot play wins. Beware of user-controlled defenders lurking in the passing lanes over the bunch, a rover or lurking linebacker can jump the shorter route in the concept and bait a turnover. This play struggles against disciplined Cover 3 with a hard flat defender since the bunch rub releases get eaten up by physical zone drops, in that case check the RPO or Spacing concept instead.
Run this on early downs like first or second and short to mid distance so the play-action fake actually holds linebackers and does not get ignored due to obvious pass situations.
Check safety depth before the snap, if you see two high safeties sitting deep the underneath sit route becomes your primary target since the deep shot will be capped.
If the defense shows single high or a run blitz look, trust the play-action fake to hold the box and take the deep shot off the bunch since the corner will likely be isolated in man.
Hot route the backside receiver into a quick option or slant if you are worried about a zone blitz overloading the bunch side, this gives you a fast outlet.
Pair this play with Inside Zone or HB Counter from the same set to sell the run fake, then come back to PA Bunch Shot once the defense starts cheating linebackers up to stop the ground game.