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Breakdown
PA Choice Vert Comebacks is a play-action shot play out of Bunch Trio Open that attacks the deep half of the field with a vertical seam and two comeback routes on the perimeter. Off the play fake, the backside X runs a comeback breaking outside near the sideline while the bunch releases a vertical seam route straight up the numbers alongside a matching comeback from the bunch receiver near the line of scrimmage, giving you a stretch between the seam and both comebacks. The offensive line sells the run fake to hold linebackers and the safety, and the primary read progression starts with the seam route working the deep middle before working outside to the comeback on either side depending on which corner sits soft.
Defensive Reads
Identify single high safety alignment pre-snap: Cover 3 and Cover 1 shells with the safety staying deep middle are vulnerable to the seam route splitting the coverage. Watch cornerback depth on the bunch side and the backside X: soft cushions of seven yards or more signal the comebacks will be open on the sit-down break. Cover 2 with hard corners jumping routes at the line can undercut both comebacks, so be ready to climb the seam route as your primary answer instead. Key linebacker depth after the snap: if they bite hard on the play-action fake and drop late, the seam route window opens up over the middle before any underneath defender can recover. User a lurk defender in the middle third if you suspect the offense is looking to hit the seam route against zone coverage, since that throw is the highest value read in this concept.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or in 2nd and medium situations where defenses expect run based on the play-action fake holding linebackers.
Check the single high safety pre-snap: if he stays deep middle without rotating, the seam route will be a tight window but the comebacks should have soft cushions to attack.
Hot route the seam runner to a deep out if you see a defender sitting directly on top of the vertical stem in zone coverage.
Pair this with Inside Zone or PA Fake Screen Verts from the same set so the defense has to respect the run fake and cannot jump the comeback break.
Look to throw the comeback route with anticipation before the break, since the throwing window closes fast once the corner recognizes the double move look.
Sequence this after running HB Cross Screen once to slow down flowing linebackers, then come back to this shot play to hit the comebacks against overaggressive underneath defenders.
