Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Deep Out is a play-action shot play out of Shotgun Deuce Close (12 personnel) built to punish teams that bite on the run fake. Off the play fake, both outside receivers push vertical stems before breaking hard to the sideline on deep outs (red and olive routes), while the backside flexed TE releases into the middle of the field on a shallow drag/flat route as the checkdown, and the play-side flexed TE runs a quick out underneath the deep out. The blocking scheme keeps the RB and interior line home to sell run action before the QB rolls into a clean pocket. Primary read progression is deep out to the play-side (usually the boundary out) first, working backside to the other deep out, then checking down to the underneath drag/flat route if both outs are covered.
Defensive Reads
Key the safeties immediately after the snap to see if they bite on the run fake, since any hard downhill trigger opens up both deep outs for explosive gains. Watch the flat defenders and corners at the snap: if they sink into deep zone drops rather than staying flat footed, this signals zone coverage and the deep outs will have to be thrown into tighter windows near the sideline. User-controlled defenders sitting in the short outside zone or flat can jump the deep out route if the QB telegraphs the throw, so look for a defender lurking outside the numbers before releasing the ball. Cover 2 shells with hard corner support at the top of the route can shut this play down since the corner can undercut the deep out break, making the backside drag or flat the smarter answer. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge threaten the play-action fake's pocket integrity, so identify pre-snap blitz indicators like walked up linebackers or slot corners crowding the line before committing to the deep drop.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or in second-and-short/third-and-short situations where run fakes still hold linebackers and safeties honest.
Pre-snap, identify single-high versus two-high safety shells: single-high looks tell you the deep out to the strong side has more window since the safety must respect the middle of the field.
If you see man coverage indicators like tight corner alignment with no outside help, throw the deep out with anticipation before the break since it is a true man beater against off or press man.
Hot route the backside flexed TE into a deeper crossing route if you are facing heavy Cover 3 zone drops, since the shallow drag can get swallowed by underneath zone defenders sitting flat.
Pair this play with PA Deep Cross or PA Deep Curls in the same set to keep defenders guessing between out breaking and in breaking deep concepts off identical run action, then mix in Mtn Stick or RPO Read Mtn Stick to punish defenders who start jumping the play-action.
