Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Corner out of Bunch Str Nasty is a play-action shot play built off the bunch alignment to stress deep zone defenders and isolated corners on the backside. The play fakes the handoff to hold the linebackers, then releases a deep corner route from the bunch, a deep post/wheel combo working the middle, a deep out that breaks toward the sideline, and a shallow crosser underneath that clears the boards for the concept above it. Primary read starts with the deep corner route out of the bunch since it attacks the seam vacated by the play-action fake, then works down to the post/wheel combo in the middle of the field, and finally checks down to the shallow crosser if everything up top is capped.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a single high safety rotating late, this tells you the defense is banking on run support and the deep corner route will be open behind the cornerback. If both safeties stay deep at the snap in a two-high shell, expect the corner route to be capped and prioritize the post or wheel route working the middle void instead. Identify user-controlled defenders lurking near the bunch formation, since a smart user will jump the shallow crosser or sit in the passing lane to bait a throw. Look for linebacker depth at the snap, shallow linebackers who bite hard on the play-action fake open up the intermediate throwing lanes for the post/wheel combo. Cover 3 with an aggressive flat defender can jump the shallow crosser, so be ready to climb the pocket and hit the corner route over the top if that flat defender bails outside.
Usage Tips
Sell the play-action fake by holding the analog stick or waiting a beat before releasing into your throwing motion so linebackers commit to the run fake.
Use this on early downs, first or second and short, when defenses are more likely to sell out on run support and bring safeties into the box.
Check pre-snap for two-high shells versus single-high looks, if you see two safeties deep, the corner route will have less room so lean on the post/wheel combo instead.
Hot route the shallow crosser into a deeper drag or spot if you are facing heavy underneath zone coverage to give yourself a faster outlet against blitz looks.
Pair this with Corndog Toss or Inside Zone earlier in a drive to get defenders flowing downhill before dialing up this shot play off the same bunch look.
