Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA WR In runs out of Shotgun Trips HB Wk with a play-action fake to hold the linebackers before the QB works the trips side. The two inside receivers from the trips bunch cross vertically, with one running a deep in from the boundary and the other climbing up the seam before breaking to the corner, creating a natural high-low stretch on that side. The backside X runs a dig that sits over the middle behind the play-action fake, while the single receiver runs a shallow crosser underneath to clear space. Primary read progression starts with the deep in breaking across the middle, then works to the seam-to-corner combo on the trips side, with the backside dig as the answer versus zone drops that flow with the play-action.
Defensive Reads
Check the strong safety depth pre-snap, if he is sitting shallow expecting run support the deep in and seam routes will have room to operate behind him. Watch for Cover 3 zone drops, the deep in route sitts in the soft spot between the flat defender and the hook defender, making it a strong zone beater against three deep shells. Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets exposed by the corner route breaking outside of the seam runner, since the defender trailing the seam has no leverage to recover. Beware of a user lurk defender sitting in the shallow crossing lane, an aggressive human-controlled linebacker can jump the underneath crosser or the deep in if the quarterback stares it down too long. Blitz-heavy fronts that crash hard on the play-action fake leave the backside dig wide open, so if the defense shows an overloaded blitz look pre-snap, expect the middle of the field to be vacated for that route.
Usage Tips
Sell the play-action by holding the left stick momentarily before releasing into your drop, this freezes linebackers and opens the deep in against man coverage.
Use this on early downs like 1st and 10 or 2nd and medium when defenses are more likely to bite on the run fake out of Trips HB Wk.
If you see a two-high safety shell pre-snap, prioritize the seam-to-corner combo since the deep safety has to respect the vertical stem before the corner route opens outside.
Hot route the single receiver into a deeper option like a dig if you are facing heavy underdown coverage, since his shallow cross alone will not threaten zone defenders sitting at the sticks.
Pair this play with Inside Zone or HB Off Tackle from the same set to keep defenses honest, then come back to PA WR In once you have shown the run fake enough times to bait linebacker aggression.
