Playbooks
PA Inverted Veer out of Shotgun Wing Trips WK is a play-action run fake designed to hold the defense with mesh point misdirection before releasing into a shot play down the field. The offensive line and TE sell the inverted veer run action, pulling the play side to bait linebackers and safeties into downhill run fits, while the QB rolls off the fake to attack the defense over the top. The primary read progression starts with the deep shot off the play fake, then works down to any intermediate outlet or checkdown if the safety stays home and takes away the vertical shot.
Key the play side linebacker and safety at the snap, if they bite on the run fake and step up, the play action window is open for the deep shot. Watch for a user controlled defender spying the QB or staying home in the box, since a disciplined spy or lurking linebacker can blow up the fake and jump the route stem. Against single high safety looks like Cover 3 or Cover 1, this play thrives because the run fake manipulates the deep defender and creates a natural window over the top. Against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with two safeties staying deep, the fake is less effective since those defenders do not need to respect the run as heavily, so expect tighter coverage on the shot route. Diagnose blitz packages pre-snap, if the defense brings extra rushers off the edge or a nano blitz look, get the ball out quickly on the primary read since the play fake eats up crucial protection time.
Use this on early downs like first and ten or second and short when the defense is geared to stop the run based on personnel and box count. Check the safety alignment pre-snap, if you see a single high safety cheating up into the box, that is your green light to fire this off since the run fake will hold him. Motion or shift the trips side pre-snap to see if the defense adjusts with a linebacker or corner, which tells you whether you are getting man or zone coverage behind the fake. If the defense shows two high safeties splitting the field, be ready to check into a quicker hitter instead since the deep shot may be covered before the fake fully develops. Pair this with actual Power Read or Counter Bash from the same set earlier in a series so the defense respects the run action, then dial up PA Inverted Veer once they start crashing down on run fits. Against aggressive user defenders flying downhill on run reads, this play punishes them hard, but avoid calling it into obvious pass situations where the run fake loses its threat value.