Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Comebacks is a play-action pass out of Shotgun 11 personnel that shows an inside zone run fake before the QB works a comeback-heavy route concept. Both outside receivers push vertical and snap back down into comeback routes at the sideline while the slot receiver runs a deep dig across the middle and the inline TE releases into a shallow crossing route underneath. This is primarily a zone beater, since the comebacks attack cornerbacks who bail into deep zone drops, and the primary read progression starts with the boundary comeback, moves to the field side comeback, and works down to the underneath crosser and dig against pressure or robber coverage.
Defensive Reads
Watch for cornerbacks playing off man technique at 6 to 7 yards, since they will have to flip their hips and open up, giving the comeback a clean window. If corners are pressed at the line in man coverage, expect a jam that disrupts route timing, making this play risky against man beater blitz packages. Identify Cover 3 or Cover 4 zone drops by checking if corners bail deep at the snap rather than reading the run fake, since that confirms the comeback will sit in the open zone. Key the flow of linebackers on the run fake: if they bite hard downhill, the underneath crosser and dig will have soft coverage to work into. Beware of a lurking safety or linebacker sitting in the shallow zone reading the QB's eyes, since he can jump the comeback route if the quarterback stares it down too long.
Usage Tips
Sell the play action by holding the snap read and letting the run fake develop before dropping to pass, since the comebacks need time to break for the ball to arrive on time.
Check safety depth pre-snap: if both safeties are sitting at 8 to 10 yards showing two high, the comebacks will have room to sit down in front of them.
Use the deep dig from the slot as a hot read versus zone blitzes where the underneath defenders vacate quickly, since it settles into the vacated middle void.
Best called on second and medium to second and long or third and short, where defenses respect the run fake but are not yet in obvious pass shells.
Pair this play with Four Verticals or Dagger from the same set so cornerbacks who jump the comeback route get burned deep on the next call.
