Playbooks
PA Fake Screen Verts
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
PA Fake Screen Verts is a play-action shot play out of the Bunch Trio Open set that sells a screen look to the bunch side before releasing two vertical routes downfield. The bunch receiver on the line breaks outside on a shallow flare fake to hold the flat defender, while the two stacked bunch receivers convert into verticals, one bending to the deep post-corner area and the other stemming outward before climbing straight up the numbers. The backside X runs a solo vertical up the sideline, giving you three vertical stems spread across the field with the play fake designed to freeze linebackers and suck up zone defenders, making the primary read the deep outside vertical off play action with the inside seam as your second progression.
Defensive Reads
Watch for the flat defender or overhang crashing down on the fake screen action, this is the key indicator the defense is playing aggressive zone or man match and the verticals behind him will be open. Read the deep safeties before the snap, two high shells with soft corner leverage tell you the outside vertical has room to work against Cover 2. Single high safety alignment with press corners signals man coverage or Cover 3, so target the inside seam route running away from the deep middle defender. Post snap, track any user controlled lurk defender sitting in the intermediate zone since he can undercut the seam route if the quarterback stares it down too long. This play struggles against disciplined zone defenses that do not bite on the screen fake and instead sink their linebackers straight into the vertical passing lanes, so avoid calling it against teams that have shown zone drop discipline on previous snaps.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or in shot situations where you have already established the run or a real screen game to sell the fake. Check the safety alignment before the snap, if you see two high safeties sitting deep this dresses up as a Cover 2 beater because the outside vertical can split the corner and safety before the deep half rotates over. If the defense shows single high or Cover 3, prioritize the inside seam route since the middle of the field is more vulnerable to the levels created by the two stacked releases. Hot route the flare fake receiver to a hitch or quick out if you see aggressive linebackers crashing the fake screen, this gives you a checkdown against blitz looks. Pair this play in sequence with RPO Alert WR Screen or HB Cross Screen earlier in a drive so the defense bites on the screen action, then dial this up to hit them over the top once they start flowing hard to the flats.
