Playbooks
PA Deep Choice out of Shotgun Wide Y Trips WK sells the play-action fake to hold the linebackers before attacking downfield with a choice route concept on the backside. The trips side occupies the deep and intermediate zones while the isolated receiver runs an option/choice route that breaks based on the coverage, sitting down against zone or working vertical and away from man leverage. Blocking is a standard PA slide protection to sell run action, and the primary read starts with the choice receiver's break before working back to the trips side crossers and dig for a zone beater outlet.
Identify single high versus two high safeties before the snap, single high alignment usually means the corner has help underneath so expect a jam or sit technique on the choice route. Watch the flow of the linebackers on the play fake, if they bite hard on the run action your window to the choice route opens immediately and you should throw with anticipation. Beware of user linebackers spying the choice receiver, a good lurk defender can undercut the sit route so have your dig or cross concept ready on the trips side as your answer. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender can jump the shorter break of the choice route, so if you see this shell late look to layer the throw or check down to the trips side underneath option. Man coverage with press alignment on the choice receiver is the biggest red flag, in this case release inside quickly and expect a rub or option away from the defender's leverage rather than forcing the deep shot.
Check the safety alignment pre-snap, two high shells give the choice receiver room to sit in the honey hole while single high tells you to expect the corner sitting on the break so widen your window with a hot route.
Use the play action fake as a threat by pairing this call with Inside Zone or HB Base earlier in the drive so linebackers respect the run fake and bite, opening up the choice route's leverage.
Motion or shift the trips side pre-snap to diagnose man versus zone, if a defender follows the shifted receiver you know it's man and can key the choice route to break away from that defender's leverage.
This play shines on second and medium to second and long where defenses expect a designed run or quick game, catching linebackers creeping up for run support.
Pair this call in sequence with Four Verticals or PA Read to keep defenders honest, alternating between shot plays and this timing-based choice concept prevents defenders from sitting on any one route combination.