Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Read out of Shotgun Doubles is a play-action pass built off a run fake to hold the linebackers before releasing five routes into the pattern. Off the play fake, the backside receiver runs a deep corner up the sideline, the outside receiver on that side breaks off a deep out, the inside slot runs a shallow drag across the middle, the frontside slot works a quick out breaking underneath, and the flanker to the boundary runs a vertical seam up the numbers. The primary read progression starts with the deep out breaking to the sideline, works down to the drag crossing underneath as the checkdown, and comes back to the vertical seam if the safety bites on the play-action fake, making this a solid zone beater that also has answers against man coverage through the drag and out combination.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify the safety depth, if both safeties are shallow expect a run blitz or Cover 2 look that the deep out and corner route can exploit over the top. Key the play side linebacker at the snap, if he steps up hard on the run fake he leaves the shallow drag wide open for an easy completion. Watch for a user controlled defender flying downhill on the run fake, this is the biggest vulnerability of PA Read since it opens the middle of the field for the drag and seam routes. Against man coverage, look for a slot corner in press alignment, the frontside out route wins quickly against tight man leverage before the defender can recover. This play struggles against a disciplined Cover 3 sky or buzz defender who stays patient on the fake, sits in the drag lane, and forces the quarterback to hold the ball into coverage on the deep routes.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs in run heavy personnel counts so the play-action fake actually influences linebackers and safeties.
Check the defensive alignment pre-snap for two deep safeties, if they stay high and soft the deep out and corner route have room to work against Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells.
Use the drag route as your answer versus man coverage and blitz looks since it clears underneath quickly and gives the quarterback a rhythm throw before pressure arrives.
Hot route the vertical seam receiver into a deeper post if you see single high safety rotation, this turns the concept into an explosive shot play against Cover 3 and Cover 1.
Pair PA Read with Inside Zone and Inside Zone Read Opt earlier in a drive so the run fake sells, then mix in PA Zone Read or PA Dagger from the same formation to keep the defense guessing on similar shotgun action.
