Playbooks
Depth-chart slots are shown as they line up in the base package for this set.
| Player | Side | Route |
|---|---|---|
| HB1 | Left | Flat |
| WR3 | Right | Deep In |
| WR1 | Left | Comeback |
| WR2 | Right | Deep Post |
| TE1 | Right | Deep Cross |
PA Read out of Shotgun Wing Trips WK is a play-action pass built off a hard run fake to hold the linebackers and second-level defenders before the QB works through a levels-based route concept. The trips side gives you a natural high-low read with a deep route stretching the safety and an intermediate crosser or dig sitting behind the linebackers, while the backside receiver runs an isolation route that can win one-on-one if the defense rolls coverage away from trips. This is a zone beater at its core since the play-action freeze creates natural throwing windows underneath and over the middle, but the isolation route on the backside gives you a legit man beater answer if a defender travels with the receiver. Primary read progression starts with the play-action mesh point to sell run, then works from the deep trips route to the intermediate crosser, and finally checks down to the backside isolation route if both are covered.
Read the safety depth before the snap, because two deep safeties who stay home after the play fake signal a zone shell that favors the intermediate crosser and underneath windows. Watch the linebacker flow at the snap, since linebackers who bite hard on the run fake open up the crossing route and any shallow drag working through their vacated zone. Identify man coverage by checking if the backside cornerback mirrors receiver motion or press aligns pre-snap, which tells you to attack with the isolation route instead of waiting on the deeper concept. Beware of a robber or lurk defender sitting in the intermediate middle zone, since a user-controlled linebacker or safety sitting on the crosser can jump the route and create a turnover if you stare it down. This play struggles against disciplined zone drops from teams that don't bite on play-action or against Cover 3 sky with a fast-flowing safety, so have a checkdown or throwaway plan if the deep and intermediate reads are capped.
Use this on early downs like first or second and medium to keep the defense honest against your run game, since the play fake plays best when the defense respects Inside Zone Split and Power Read from earlier in the drive.
Check the defense pre-snap for two-high shells, because if the safeties stay deep the play-action fake won't influence them much, so lean on the intermediate crosser instead of forcing the deep shot.
If you see man coverage indicators like press corners or a safety walked into the box, hot route the backside isolation route into a quick slant or option route to win immediately against man leverage.
Pair this play with PA Inverted Veer and PA Power Y Pop in the same set to keep the defense guessing between run action, veer keeps, and dropback play-action, all from similar Wing Trips WK looks.
Against aggressive blitz teams, motion the backside receiver pre-snap to confirm man versus zone before the snap, since a defender following the motion tips man coverage and tells you to prioritize the isolation route.