Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 13 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Read out of Shotgun Wing Stack starts with a play-action fake to sell the run threat before the quarterback works a route concept built to attack the defense vertically and horizontally at once. Off the fake, one receiver runs a quick out breaking to the flat for an immediate underneath outlet, while two receivers stack a corner and go combo up the same side, with the inside man breaking hard to the corner route over the top and the outside man climbing straight up the seam on a go route. On the opposite side, a receiver runs a shallow drag across the field that settles and turns upfield, giving the quarterback a built in crosser against man coverage. This is a play-action shot play designed to hit zone defenses over the middle and beat man coverage with the corner-go combo, and the primary read starts with the flat route to hold underneath defenders, then progresses to the deep corner and go routes on the boundary before working back to the crossing route if the coverage rotates away from the initial fake.
Defensive Reads
Identify single high safety shells pre-snap, since that alignment leaves the corner-go combo on the boundary in a favorable one-on-one that this play is designed to exploit. Watch for cornerbacks pressing at the line against the stacked receivers, as this signals man coverage and tells you the crosser and corner route will have natural leverage advantages off the release. Read linebacker depth after the snap to see if they bite on the play-action fake, since linebackers stepping up to defend the run open a throwing lane for the flat route and crossing route underneath. Beware of user controlled defenders sitting in a lurk technique in the middle of the field, as they can jump the crossing route if the quarterback stares it down too long. This play struggles against two deep zone shells with disciplined underneath defenders who do not bite the fake, since that coverage takes away both the flat conversion and the deep corner route at the same time.
Usage Tips
Use PA Read on early downs when you have already established the run game, since the play-action fake needs defenders biting downhill to open up the deep shots.
Check the safety alignment before the snap. Two deep safeties usually means the crosser or flat route is your quickest access throw, while a single high safety tells you the corner-go combo has a one-on-one matchup to exploit deep.
Hot route the flat route to a hitch or streak if you see the defense playing soft zone underneath, since the flat conversion can be jumped by an aggressive user linebacker.
Pair this play with Read Option or Inside Zone earlier in a drive so the linebackers start cheating on run fits, then call PA Read to punish that aggression with the deep shot.
Against man coverage, prioritize the corner-go stack since natural picks at the release point create separation, and against zone, work the crossing route as it settles into soft spots vacated by rotating zone defenders.
