Playbooks

PA All Curl

Shotgun·Wing Trio·11

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 2 playbooks

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Breakdown

PA All Curl out of Shotgun Wing Trio is a play-action passing concept that uses a run fake to hold linebackers and freeze underneath zone defenders while curl routes settle into soft spots against zone coverage. The blocking scheme mimics inside zone action to sell the run fake before the quarterback works through his curl route reads at the sticks. This is primarily a zone beater since it exploits linebackers biting on the play fake and creates natural picture reads at the curl breakpoints, though it can work against man coverage if the receiver wins early separation on the break. The primary read progression starts with the shortest curl on the play side, then works to the intermediate curls across the middle of the field, and finishes with the checkdown or backside curl if the defense sinks its underneath defenders.

Defensive Reads

Read the linebacker depth immediately after the snap, since shallow or aggressive linebackers biting on the run fake open up the intermediate curl windows over the middle Identify single high safety looks like Cover 3 or Cover 1, because the curl routes will find soft spots between the underneath zone defenders and the deep safety Watch for user controlled defenders lurking in the shallow middle zone, since a smart user can sit on the primary curl read and bait an interception if you force the throw Beware of Cover 2 sink or Cover 4 quarters shells where corners and safeties can double up on the outside curl routes, since this forces you to work the middle curls or checkdown quickly Look for disguised blitz packages like a nano blitz off the edge, since the play fake slows down your quarterback's release point and makes him vulnerable to a fast interior rush if protection breaks down

Usage Tips

Sell the play fake by holding the ball down through the run animation before committing to your dropback, since a rushed fake tips off the defense and lets linebackers stay home in their drops

Check pre-snap for two high safeties or single high shells, because this play thrives against zone shells like Cover 3 and Cover 4 where linebackers have to respect the run action before sinking to their curl zones

Use hot routes to convert one curl into a flat or corner route if you see man coverage press at the line, giving you a quick man beater option without changing the play call

Run this on early downs like first and ten or second and medium to keep the defense honest against your run game, then sequence into HB Mid Zone or Inside Zone from the same set to keep linebackers guessing on run fits

Pair this with Dash Curl Flat or Y Flood in your play calling script so the defense cannot sit on the curl breakpoints without opening up flood concepts elsewhere in the route tree

Other Plays in Wing Trio