Playbooks

Reload PA Unders

Shotgun·Trips TE·11

Quick Reference

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Breakdown

Reload PA Unders is a play-action concept out of Shotgun Trips TE that sells the run fake before working underneath routes designed to sit down in the soft spots of zone coverage. The under routes cross the middle of the field at shallow to intermediate depth, creating natural picks and rubs that make this a strong zone beater against Cover 3 and Cover 2 shells, while the play fake also holds linebackers for a beat to open passing lanes. The primary read progression starts with the underneath crosser working from the trips side, then moves to the backside flat or check down if linebackers sink to take away the first read.

Defensive Reads

Read the middle linebacker first. If he steps up hard on the play fake, the under route behind him should be wide open for an easy completion. Check for Cover 3 shells with the deep safeties splitting the field, since this leaves the intermediate middle vacated for the under routes to settle into. Watch for a user controlled defender lurking in the shallow zone, as a smart user will sit on the crossing route and jump the throw if you telegraph it. Identify Cover 1 or Cover 0 man looks pre-snap, since blitz heavy man coverage can beat this play before the fake even finishes if the protection does not hold up. Post-snap, track the flow of the linebackers. If they flow hard to the fake and do not recover, the under concept turns into an explosive gain over the middle.

Usage Tips

Use this play on second or third and medium when defenses expect run based on personnel and formation tendencies, since the play fake carries more weight in those situations.

Check the linebacker depth pre-snap. If they are sitting shallow anticipating run, the under routes will have even more room to work once the fake sells.

Hot route the backside receiver into a shallow drag or spot route if you diagnose man coverage, since the base under concept is built more for zone but can still function with a quick adjustment.

Pair this play with Reload Shock HB Choice or Reload RPO Zone Alert Bubble earlier in a series so the defense respects the run action out of this same formation, making the play-action fake here even more effective.

Avoid calling this into aggressive blitz packages unless you have a quick pre-snap plan to slide protection or check into a quicker route, since the play fake eats up valuable time against pressure.

Other Plays in Trips TE