Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
PA FL Fly runs a play-action shot play off the Doubles Flex look, with the backfield fake selling the run before the QB works a three-man vertical stretch. The flanker aligned wide runs the fly straight up the sideline as the deep shot read, while both slot receivers on the left run deep crossers, cutting hard underneath the fly route back across the field. This is a man beater designed to hit the fly on a blown coverage or bust, with the crossers serving as the secondary answer against man coverage that gets picked or rubbed at the break point. The primary read progression starts with the fly route for the explosive play, then works back to the crossing routes underneath if the deep shot is capped by a safety.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify the deep safety count: one high safety signals man or Cover 3, which is exactly what this play is designed to exploit with the fly route. Watch the cornerback depth on the flanker before the snap, a corner playing tight man coverage with no help over the top is the biggest red flag that the fly will win deep. Post-snap, key the middle linebacker and see if he bites on the run fake, heavy linebacker flow toward the line of scrimmage opens up the crossing routes underneath. User the deep half or deep third defender manually if you suspect the fly route is the primary target, since a computer controlled safety will often be late getting over the top. Two high safety shells with defenders sitting on crossing routes are the counter to this play, in that case peel off to the fly or check down since the crossers will be sat on and jumped for a turnover.
Usage Tips
Check for single high safety alignment pre-snap since PA FL Fly is built to attack Cover 1 and Cover 3 shells where the deep third defender has to choose between the fly and the crossers.
If the corner over the flanker is playing off with outside leverage, take the shot to the fly immediately off the play-action fake before the pass rush closes the pocket.
Hot route the crossers into deeper digs or have them settle if you diagnose zone coverage, since the crossing routes are the built in answer when the fly gets bracketed.
Use this play on second and short or on first down to keep run fake honesty at its highest, since defenses respect the run action more in early down situations.
Pair this shot play with RPO Zone Peek or Inside Zone earlier in a drive so the defense bites on run action, then call PA FL Fly to cash in on the explosive play once linebackers start flowing hard on run fakes.
