Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
PA Niners Flood is a play-action flood concept out of Shotgun Trio Offset Wk that stacks three receivers vertically on one side of the field to overload a single zone. Off the play fake, the outside receiver runs a deep corner route, the slot receiver runs a deep out breaking to the sideline at intermediate depth, and the RB releases underneath on a flat route, creating a high low low read from deep to short. The backside receiver runs a deep post as a crosser, giving you a coverage escape valve away from the flood if the defense rotates hard to the trips side. This is a classic Cover 3 beater since it floods one third of the field with three defenders forced to cover three levels.
Defensive Reads
Look for a single high safety pre-snap, this signals Cover 3 or Cover 1 and tells you the flood concept has room to work against three underneath or deep third defenders. Watch the flat defender after the snap, if he sinks with the flat route or gets picked off by the play fake, your RB is open for an easy checkdown. Key the cornerback on the flood side, if he sits on the deep out and does not respect the corner route over the top, take the shot deep before he can recover. Beware of two high safety shells like Cover 4 or Cover 2, since an extra defender over the top can rob the corner route and force you to check down early. Watch for a user controlled linebacker dropping into a lurk spot on the deep out route, that is the biggest threat to this concept and a good defender will sit right in that window.
Usage Tips
Check the safety alignment before the snap, if you see a single high safety that is your green light since this play is built to gash Cover 3 and Cover 1 zones. Start your progression with the deep corner route first because it stresses the cornerback and safety at the same time, then work down to the deep out and finally the flat route if the top of the flood is covered. Use the play fake to freeze linebackers, this opens up the flat route against teams that spy the RB or blitz off the edge. Pair this play with Curl Flat or PA Flanker Spot in your play calling sequence so you can attack the same flood side with different route depths and keep defenders guessing between over the top shots and quick underneath throws. Best used on second or third and medium to long since the deep routes take time to develop and you need the pocket to hold up against pass rush.
