Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Comebacks is a play-action passing concept out of the Shotgun Spread Dbl Flex 11 personnel look, designed to attack the perimeter after the run fake freezes second-level defenders. Both outside receivers run comeback routes, breaking back to the sideline at roughly 12 to 15 yards, while the slot receiver on the right side runs a corner route stemming vertically before breaking outside toward the boundary. On the left side the inside receiver runs an out breaking route that settles underneath, and the play action fake to the running back sets up a rollout style pocket that gives the quarterback time to work the comebacks on either side. This is primarily a man beater since the comeback breaks create separation against trailing defenders and the double comeback combo gives you a boundary read to either side depending on which corner bites hardest on the play fake.
Defensive Reads
Read the strong side safety before the snap, since a safety cheating down into the box signals man coverage underneath and tells you the comeback route will have room to break open. Watch cornerback depth at the snap, because corners playing off coverage at 7 or more yards are susceptible to the comeback break, while corners in press alignment can jam the release and disrupt route timing. Key the flow of the linebackers after the play action fake, since linebackers who step up hard toward the line of scrimmage vacate the underneath zones that the out route and corner route are designed to exploit. Identify Cover 3 zone drops post-snap by watching if the cornerback sinks into a deep third instead of mirroring the receiver, which tells you to throw the comeback in front of him rather than behind. Beware disguised blitzes off the edge, since a delayed play action rollout leaves the quarterback exposed if the defense brings a nano blitz or overload pressure from the play side.
Usage Tips
Use this on second and long or third and medium when defenses expect a dropback pass, since the run fake plays off run tendencies you have established earlier in the drive.
Check pre-snap for single high shells like Cover 3 or Cover 1, since aggressive corners jumping the underneath route open up the comeback break for an easy pitch and catch.
If the defense shows Cover 2 or Cover 4 with soft corners sitting at depth, hot route the outside comebacks into speed outs or hitches to avoid throwing into a sinking cornerback.
Sell the play action fake with a stick of the left trigger or by holding the run animation out fully, because linebacker bite on the fake is what actually opens throwing lanes for the corner route on the right.
Pair this play with Mtn Fades H-Choice or Deep Curl in the same set to keep defenses guessing between vertical shots and comeback breaks off similar formation and personnel looks.
