Playbooks
PA Spinner Post Flood is a play-action shot play out of Shotgun Split U Off Close that uses a spin-fake handoff to freeze linebackers before flooding one side of the field vertically and horizontally. The concept stacks a deep post with an intermediate flood route and a shallow flood option underneath, creating a high low read that stresses zone drops and attacks single high shells. Your primary read progression starts with the post shot off the play fake, then works down to the flood route if the safety jumps the deep shot, and finally to the underneath flood outlet against aggressive man coverage or a hard blitz.
Read the middle of field safety before the snap. If he is aligned deep and stays true post snap, the post throw is contested and you should progress to the flood. Watch linebacker depth at the snap. Linebackers who step up hard to play the run fake open the intermediate flood window immediately. Identify cover 3 or cover 1 shells, since the deep post attacks the seam between the deep third defender and the safety rotating late. Beware of cover 4 or cover 2 looks where the safety to the flood side sits and reads quarterback eyes, as this allows him to jump the post route for a turnover. Post snap, key any user controlled defender dropping into a lurk spot on the flood side, since that defender can undercut the shallow flood route if the quarterback stares it down.
Sell the run fake by holding the ball fake through the animation before your eyes go downfield, since defenders who bite on the spin action open up easy throwing lanes.
Check the safety alignment before the snap. A single high safety or a safety showing rotation to the flood side tells you the post is live for a big play.
Use hot routes to slide the underneath flood route into the boundary if you see man coverage on that side, giving your outlet more separation against a trailing defender.
This play hits best on 2nd and medium or 1st down when defenses are more likely to sit in base zone coverage rather than bring exotic pressure.
Pair this with Mtn Inside Zone or Outside Zone Lt earlier in the sequence to get defenders keying the run fake, then hit them with PA Spinner Post Flood once they start creeping linebackers into the box.
Against user blitzers, get the ball out on the shallow flood route quickly rather than holding for the post, since the play fake eats clock and leaves the pocket vulnerable.