Playbooks
Depth-chart slots are shown as they line up in the base package for this set.
| Player | Side | Route |
|---|---|---|
| HB1 | Right | Option Route |
| SLWR | Right | Speed In |
| WR1 | Left | Streak |
| WR2 | Right | Option Route |
| TE1 | Right | Run Block |
PA Walk Deep Choice is a play-action shot play out of Shotgun Wide Y Off Trips that uses run-fake mechanics to freeze linebackers and hold safeties before attacking the deep middle and boundary with a choice route concept. The Y (TE) works a choice route where he can settle, sit, or break vertical based on the coverage he reads, giving you a built-in man beater and zone beater in one design. The primary read progression starts with the deep choice route to identify if the defender is playing inside or outside leverage, then works to the trips side for underneath zone beaters or a check down if the play fake holds the defense long enough.
Pre-snap, identify the safety alignment first, a single high safety means the middle of the field is open for the choice route to settle in the void. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they step up hard on the run fake, that confirms they are vulnerable to the choice route sitting behind them in the intermediate zone. Post-snap, key any user-controlled defender lurking in the middle of the field, since a smart user linebacker sitting in the passing lane can jump the choice route and bait a turnover. This play struggles against disciplined zone defenses that do not bite on the play fake, especially Tampa 2 or Cover 3 with a robber underneath, since the choice route has no room to sit. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the ideal defensive alignment to attack, the choice route can break away from man defenders who commit to the run fake.
Use this play on early downs (first or second and short to medium) when you have already established the run game, since the play fake only sells if the defense respects HB Power G from this same set.
Check the middle of the field pre-snap, if you see a single high safety sitting deep, the choice route has room to break away from the middle linebacker for an explosive gain.
If the defense shows two high safeties, hot route the choice route to break outside since the safety over the top will not have to respect a vertical threat in the middle.
Pair this call with RPO Walk Alert Curls or RPO Walk Alert Slant earlier in a drive so linebackers start keying run fakes and bite on the play-action mechanics.
Avoid calling this on third and long or in obvious pass situations, since defenses will sit back in zone shells and take away the play fake advantage entirely.