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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
PA Under is a play-action pass out of Shotgun Normal Flex Wing that sells a run fake before attacking underneath and vertical zones. The diagram shows a deep out breaking route toward the sideline, an underneath crosser that settles into a shallow drag from the left slot, and a deep vertical route from the right side receiver that clears out the top of the coverage. The primary read progression starts with the shallow drag as the checkdown against man pressure, then works to the deep out for a possible zone window, and finally the vertical route on the outside if the safety bites on the play fake.
Defensive Reads
Identify single high safety looks pre-snap since that alignment is vulnerable to the deep vertical route once the play fake pulls linebackers out of position. Watch for two deep safeties splitting the field evenly, which signals a Cover 2 or Cover 4 shell that can shut down the deep out route if the corner sits underneath it. Post-snap, key on the flow of the middle linebacker: if he steps up hard on the run fake, the shallow drag route will be wide open in the vacated zone. Beware of a user-controlled defender lurking in the shallow zone, as this play is susceptible to lurk drops that jump the drag route and bait a turnover. Look for blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge, since the play-action fake can be exposed by fast pressure that collapses the pocket before routes develop downfield.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs like 1st and 10 or 2nd and short to keep defenses honest against the run fake before committing to pass coverage.
Check the linebacker depth pre-snap: if they are stacked near the line expecting run, the play-action freeze will open up the drag route immediately for an easy completion.
Hot route the deep vertical receiver into a comeback if you see a single high safety rotating late, since that removes the risk of a jump ball against a deep half defender.
Pair this play with HB Dive or HB Power earlier in a series to condition the defense to bite on run action, making the PA Under fake far more effective in critical situations.
Against man coverage, prioritize the underneath drag as your first read since it creates natural separation off the play-action rub, especially versus blitz-heavy nano packages.
