Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Orbit PA Curls is a play-action pass out of Shotgun Normal Y Off with 11 personnel that uses orbit motion from the backfield to sell run action before the quarterback sets up in the pocket. Off the play fake, the outside receiver runs a deep vertical stem up the numbers while the Y (tight end) breaks off a curl route at intermediate depth in the middle of the field, and the flat back on the near side runs an underneath drag/flat route to occupy shallow zone defenders. The backside receiver runs a shallow curl breaking away from the play, giving a two-level curl combo that settles into zone windows once the play fake is complete. This is primarily a zone beater built to hold linebackers with the run fake and let the curls sit down in the soft spots of Cover 2 or Cover 3, with the deep vertical serving as a coverage-stretching alert against single-high shells. Primary read progression starts with the Y curl over the middle, moves to the backside shallow curl if linebackers sink too deep, and finally to the deep vertical shot if the safety bites on the play fake.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth: if both safeties are shallow near the box, expect run support that opens up the deep vertical route as the alert throw. Watch the linebacker level before the snap. If linebackers are stacked tight to the line, they are more likely to bite on the play fake, clearing the Y curl for an easy completion. Post-snap, key any user-controlled linebacker or safety dropping into the middle curl zone, since that is a lurk threat that can jump the primary Y curl read and bait an interception. This concept struggles against aggressive Cover 3 sky or Cover 4 shells where the flat defender and curl-flat zone defender stay disciplined, since both curls get squeezed with no soft grass to sit in. Man coverage with no play-action discipline gets exposed hard here, since the run fake still creates a beat of hesitation that opens throwing lanes for the curls before the defender can recover.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion to identify man versus zone before the snap, since the orbit motion defender's reaction (following the back or staying put) tells you if you are getting man or zone coverage.
This play works best on second or third and medium situations where linebackers are more willing to step up on the run fake, opening the intermediate curl windows.
If you diagnose man coverage, hot route the backside curl into a corner or out route to create separation instead of settling, since curls versus man defenders get boxed in easily.
Pair this play with Mtn Curls or HB Counter in your play-calling sequence so the defense has to respect the run action every time you show this backfield look, which increases the effectiveness of the play fake.
Against safeties that cheat up on run fakes, take the shot on the deep vertical route early in the read progression instead of working the curls, since that alert route becomes the primary target.
