Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Y Leak is a play-action shot play out of Shotgun Deuce Close that disguises run action before releasing three vertical threats. Both outside receivers push straight up the seams on go routes to stretch the deep coverage, while the Y (in-line tight end) leaks out from the play-action fake and works across the middle on a delayed crossing route underneath, showing as the red route in the diagram. The remaining back releases to the flat as an outlet, giving the quarterback a clean progression from the two deep verticals down to the leaking tight end and finally the checkdown in the flat.
Defensive Reads
Check safety depth pre-snap, a single deep safety signals Cover 1 or Cover 3 and tells you the verticals have a chance to win over the top. Watch the linebackers at the snap, if they step up hard on the run fake the leak route from the Y will have wide open grass in the intermediate middle. User controlled defenders sitting in a shallow zone or spying the middle can jump the Y leak route, so have a checkdown plan to the flat if that user shows late. Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with two deep safeties can squeeze both verticals, forcing you to live underneath with the leak and flat routes. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge shorten the play-action fake window, so anticipate a quicker throw to the leak route rather than waiting on the verticals to develop.
Usage Tips
Sell the run fake with a full play-action animation before releasing your eyes downfield so linebackers bite and open the leak lane for the Y.
Use this on early downs or in run-heavy personnel situations where defenses are keying on Inside Zone or Outside Zone from this same set to maximize the play-action hold.
Read the two vertical routes first against single-high shells like Cover 1 or Cover 3, since a cornerback trailing the go route often opens a throwing lane behind him.
If the defense shows two-high safeties pre-snap, prioritize the leaking Y over the middle since the safeties will likely be occupied by the verticals.
Pair this with Inside Zone and Mtn RPO Zone Stick from the same set so the run fake stays credible and defenses cannot sit on the play-action tendency.
