Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Whips Curls is a play-action pass out of Shotgun Normal Flex Snug with 11 personnel that shows a double whip route concept to both sides. On the left, the outside receiver runs a whip route that breaks vertically upfield after a hard jab step to the flat, while the inside slot man sells a quick out to the flat as a check down. On the right, the outside receiver runs a mirrored whip that angles back to the sideline while the tight end or slot man releases to the flat underneath. The primary read progression starts with the left whip route running vertical off the play-action fake, then works to the underneath flat route on either side if the whip window is closed, making this a solid man beater against man coverage that bites on the play-action.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check for linebacker depth and safety alignment, if the safeties are showing single high look for the whip route to win vertically against man coverage. Post-snap, watch for a user-controlled defender lurking in the shallow flat area, this can jump the whip breaks and undercut the throw if the quarterback stares it down. Cover 3 zone drops with linebackers sinking hard underneath can take away both whip routes, forcing the check down flat routes into tighter windows. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge can disrupt the play-action fake timing, so identify pre-snap blitz indicators like walked up corners or stacked box fronts. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the biggest weakness this play exploits, the whip route's vertical break creates instant separation before the defender can recover.
Usage Tips
Use the play-action fake to freeze linebackers before checking the whip route breaking vertically, this window closes fast against disciplined defenses.
Attack single high safety looks or man coverage shells since the whip routes create natural rub and separation against man defenders trailing underneath breaks.
Hot route the backside flat receiver into a deeper corner or seam if you see two high safeties bailing into zone drops, this adds a vertical answer against zone beaters.
Pair this play with Inside Zone or HB Draw earlier in a series to sell the run fake and get linebackers creeping up before dialing up PA Whips Curls.
Use on early downs like 1st and 10 or 2nd and medium when defenses are more likely to respect the run action and bite on the play fake.
