Playbooks

PA Read

Shotgun·Cluster·11

Play Action Pass Play

Play diagram for PA Read from Shotgun Cluster in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetCluster

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 6 playbooks

Air Raid OffenseOffense Franchise Offense Airraid GunOffense Packers OffenseOffense Steelers OffenseOffense NFL Live Packers OffenseOffense NFL Live Steelers OffenseOffense

Breakdown

PA Read out of Shotgun Cluster uses play action to hold the linebackers before attacking the defense with a three level route combo. The X receiver runs a deep vertical up the numbers, the TE or slot runs a corner route breaking outside from the middle of the field, and the outlet receiver runs a shallow drag underneath toward the opposite sideline while the running back releases on a flat route for a checkdown. This is a play action pass designed to beat zone coverage by stretching it vertically and horizontally, with the primary read starting on the deep vertical to check for a blown coverage, then working down to the corner route as the intermediate window, and finally the drag or flat as the safety valve against underneath zone drops.

Defensive Reads

Watch the linebacker depth at the snap, if they bite hard on the run fake and drop late, the corner route and drag will both be open in the void they leave behind. Identify the deep safety shell before the snap, quarters or two high shells force you to trust the corner route since the vertical will be capped by a safety over the top. Man coverage with a single high safety is the ideal shell to beat with the deep vertical, since it isolates your X receiver against a cornerback with no safety help underneath. Look for a user controlled defender sitting in the intermediate flat area, if he lurks toward the drag or flat route, reset your eyes to the corner route sitting behind him. Zone blitzes with five or six man pressure can disrupt the play action fake, so recognize a walked up linebacker or slot defender crashing the backfield and get to your checkdown quickly.

Usage Tips

Use this on early downs when the defense is expecting run, since the cluster bunch alignment sells play action well against aggressive run fits.

Check the safety alignment pre-snap, if you see two high safeties bail into deep thirds or quarters, the corner route sitting in the intermediate zone becomes the easy answer.

If the defense shows single high safety look, work the deep vertical route first since it often wins one on one against a cornerback playing off in a single high shell.

Hot route the drag route into a deeper crossing route against man coverage teams that like to blitz off the edge, this gives your quarterback a quick answer if the play action fake does not fully hold the front seven.

Pair this play with Inside Zone or HB Off Tackle earlier in a series so the run action sells convincingly, then call PA Read to punish linebackers who step up on the fake.