Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA TE Attack out of Shotgun Wing Pair is a play-action shot play that hides its intentions behind a run fake before releasing three vertical stretch routes. The diagram shows the outside receiver and the wing running deep verticals on the left and right seams, with a third receiver breaking on a deep out or corner route from the middle of the formation, while the backfield player runs a quick flat route underneath to the boundary. The blocking scheme sells the run action up front before the QB works his progression from the deep out breaking route to the vertical seams, making this a shot play built to attack both man and zone coverage off the play-action fake.
Defensive Reads
Read the linebacker depth immediately after the snap. If they step up hard on the run fake, the vertical seams will be wide open behind them. Watch for a user controlled defender sitting in a deep zone or spying the middle route, since that lurk threat can jump the deep out and bait a pick. Identify cover 3 versus cover 1 pre-snap by checking corner press alignment. Press man corners on the outside verticals signal man coverage and a tighter throwing window. Look for a blitz package that brings extra rushers off the edge, since the play design only has one hot underneath option and can get exposed if protection breaks down. Zone defenses that stay disciplined and sink their safeties over the top will squeeze the vertical routes, so quarters shells with no run fake respect are the toughest matchup for this concept.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs like first or second and short to mid distance so the run fake actually holds linebackers and safeties.
Check the safety alignment before the snap. Two high safeties suggest zone, so target the deep out route working away from the middle of the field.
Against single high looks, trust the vertical seam routes to win one on one against linebackers who bite on the run fake.
Pair this play with Inside Zone or Duo earlier in a series so the defense respects the run action and the play-action fake actually freezes second level defenders.
Hot route the underneath flat receiver into a quick option or check down if the defense shows an obvious blitz look, since he becomes your escape valve versus pressure.
