Playbooks

PA Read

Shotgun·Doubles·11

Play Action Pass Play

Play diagram for PA Read from Shotgun Doubles in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetDoubles

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 4 playbooks

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Breakdown

PA Read is a play-action pass out of Shotgun Doubles that sells the run fake before attacking the middle and boundary of the field. Off the play fake, the backside receiver runs a deep corner route while the slot receiver breaks outside on a shallow out, and the frontside TE runs a deep crossing route while the outside receiver runs a short flat route. This is a zone beater designed to stress the flat and deep thirds simultaneously, with the primary read progression starting on the deep crossing TE working across the middle, then working down to the shallow out and flat route if the middle is taken away.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing man or zone by checking cornerback depth and whether linebackers are stacked over the box in run-fit position. Post-snap, watch for a user-controlled linebacker spying the play fake instead of biting, since that defender can jump the deep crossing route and turn it into a pick six. Cover 3 and Cover 4 zone shells struggle with this concept because the flat and shallow out routes stretch underneath defenders horizontally while the cross occupies the middle linebacker. Man coverage with underneath help can shut this down if the defense stays disciplined and does not commit extra defenders to the run fake, since the crossing route has no natural pick or rub to separate from a trailing defender. Watch the boundary safety after the snap, if he stays deep instead of creeping down for run support, the shallow out to that side is the higher-percentage throw over trying to force the ball into traffic on the cross.

Usage Tips

Run this on early downs like first or second and short to mid distance so the play fake actually holds linebackers and safeties for a beat.

Check the safety alignment before the snap. Two deep safeties who stay put after the fake tell you to work the shallow out and flat instead of forcing the deep cross.

Use the deep crossing TE as your first read against single high looks since the middle of the field is often vacated by man coverage defenders chasing the run fake.

Pair this with Inside Zone or HB Mid Draw earlier in a drive so the defense starts biting on run action, which sets up bigger plays when you come back to PA Read.

If the user controls a linebacker and sits underneath the crossing route, hot route the flat receiver into a quick out to punish the sit and throw with anticipation.