Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Deep Curls runs off a play-action fake out of Shotgun Tight Doubles, holding the linebackers just long enough to open up two curl routes breaking outside the numbers. Both the yellow and red receivers push vertically up the seam before sitting down and curling back to the sideline at around 15 to 18 yards, while the two blue receivers on the perimeter run off the corners to clear space underneath. This is a zone beater designed to attack the soft spots in Cover 3 and Cover 4 zone drops, with the primary read progression working from the near curl route to the far curl route based on which linebacker or safety flows first.
Defensive Reads
Man coverage with press corners is the biggest threat to this concept since the curl routes have to fight through contact before settling, so expect a delayed break versus Cover 1 or Cover 0. Watch for slot or hook defenders sitting in the curl windows in Cover 3, this indicates a zone shell and the quarterback should hold the ball an extra beat to let the route settle before the defender arrives. If both safeties stay deep and level pre-snap, that is a strong indicator of two high shell coverage which this play is designed to exploit with the two curl breakpoints. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge can disrupt the play-action fake and force a quick check down, so identify overload fronts or crashing edge defenders before the snap. A user-controlled linebacker sitting in a lurk position over the curl routes can jump the break, so read his depth and hip angle before committing to either curl throw.
Usage Tips
Check the safety alignment pre-snap, this play thrives against two high safeties who bail into deep zone drops and hesitate on the play-action fake.
Use the play-action fake to freeze linebackers, then work your first read to the curl route on the side where the underneath defender bit hardest on the run fake.
Hot route the outside blue receivers into deeper routes if you see Cover 2 corners jumping the curl windows, since the vertical clear-outs are already doing their job.
Call this on second and medium to second and long situations where defenses expect a run look off the play-action, keeping them honest before dialing up Curl or Browns Curl for quicker underneath answers.
Pair this with HB Draw or Inside Zone earlier in a series so linebackers start keying run fits, making the play-action freeze on Deep Curls even more effective.
