Playbooks

PA Comebacks

Shotgun·Duo Slot Open·20
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Quick Reference

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Breakdown

PA Comebacks is a play-action pass out of Shotgun Duo Slot Open that sells the inside zone run fake before working outside breaking routes on both sides of the field. The concept is built around comeback routes from the outside receivers, with underneath options from the slot to hold linebackers and safeties after the run fake freezes them. This is primarily a zone beater, since the play-action hold on second level defenders opens up the deep comeback windows against off man and zone shells, with the primary read progression starting to the boundary comeback and working to the field side comeback if the first defender sits or the corner does not respect the double move.

Defensive Reads

Read the corner leverage pre-snap, if he is playing off with inside shade, the comeback route will break open away from his positioning as soon as he turns his back. Key the safety rotation after the snap, single high shells with the safety biting on run action leave the deep comeback lanes exposed since there is no help over the top on the break. Watch for user-controlled linebackers dropping into curl to flat zones, since a disciplined zone defender can undercut the comeback if he reads the quarterback eyes early instead of respecting the play fake. Identify Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells with the flat defender sitting short, since squatting zone corners can jump the comeback route if the quarterback does not sell the play-action fake with a full ball carrier mesh. Look for press man coverage on the outside receivers, since a physical jam at the line can disrupt the timing of the comeback break and force a late or contested throw into tight coverage.

Usage Tips

Use this on early downs when the defense expects inside zone based on personnel and formation tendencies, since the play-action fake carries more weight and freezes linebackers longer.

Check corner depth pre-snap, if you see soft press or off man with outside leverage, the comeback route has a natural window once the corner opens his hips to run vertical.

Hot route the underneath slot option into a quick out or spot route if you are facing a hard corner blitz look, giving yourself a check down before the comebacks develop.

Pair this play with Inside Zone earlier in a series to condition the defense to bite on run fakes, then call PA Comebacks to punish linebackers who crash downhill.

Combine with PA Slot Post or PA Flood in the same set to keep defenders guessing between deep shots and comeback breaks, forcing user defenders to commit early and get beat.

Best used on second and medium or third and short to medium, since the comeback timing fits situations where the defense sits back expecting a shorter completion.

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