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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Reload PA Flood is a play-action flood concept out of Shotgun Empty Base Flex with 11 personnel. Pre-snap motion brings a receiver in weak side, and the play-fake to the reloaded back sells run action before the QB works a three level flood to the strong side: a corner route stretching the deep third, an out breaking flat route from the slot, and a shallow drag underneath from the backfield motion man. The weak side runs a hitch and go to occupy that corner, giving the QB a clear high low low read on the strong side flood, making this a Cover 3 beater designed to isolate the deep, intermediate, and underneath defenders on one side of the field.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and alignment, a single high safety rotated to the strong side signals a Cover 3 or Cover 1 look that this flood concept is built to punish. Watch the cornerback over the flood side, if he presses aggressively without deep help behind him the corner route wins over the top for a big play. Post-snap, identify the flat defender or curl to flat player, this is the primary user controlled threat who can jump the shallow drag or the flat route and disrupt the timing of the flood. Look for late rotating safeties or robber defenders sitting in the middle of the field, since a lurking defender in the throwing lane can undercut the intermediate flat route if the QB does not layer the throw properly. Cover 4 or Cover 6 shells with two deep safeties can shut this down if the corner route runs into a deep quarter defender, so check for two high safety alignment before committing to the deep shot.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify man versus zone before the snap, if the defender follows the motion man across the formation it is man coverage and the shallow drag becomes a leverage win against a trailing defender.
Attack this on early downs or in play-action heavy sequences after establishing Reload HB Sweep or Reload Inside Zone, since the run fake plays off the same backfield action and freezes linebackers.
Key the flat defender first, if he sits on the flat route the corner route behind him is open, if he widens to the corner the flat route is the check down against Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells.
Pair this call with Reload PA Shake Bubble or Mtn Switch Flood in a sequence to keep defenders guessing between quick game and deep shots off identical formation and motion.
Best used on second and medium or first down to punish defenses selling out on run stop after previous run calls from this same personnel group.
