Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
PA Fork runs a play-action deep cross concept out of Shotgun Wing with 12 personnel. Off the fake, the deep red route runs a corner-post breaking across the middle from the boundary to the far sideline, crossing underneath a yellow dig that breaks in front of it, while the outside receiver runs an out and the wing TE runs a flat route to the sideline. This is a man beater built to exploit the natural rub created by the crossing routes, and the primary read progression starts with the deep crossing route (red), then works down to the underneath dig, and finally checks down to the flat route if both are covered.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high safety alignment since that signals Cover 1 or Cover 3, both of which get stressed by the deep crossing route. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they bite hard on the play-action fake it opens up the underneath dig for an easy completion. Man coverage defenders trailing the crossing routes are vulnerable to natural picks, so user lurk defenders need to sit in the passing lanes rather than blindly chasing receivers. Cover 2 shells with two deep safeties can shut this down by having the safety rotate over to help on the deep crosser, so look for two-deep pre-snap indicators to bail on this play. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge can beat the play-action fake if the offensive line does not account for the extra defender, so check protection assignments before the snap.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs (1st or 2nd and short to medium) when the defense is likely to bite on run action from the Wing formation personnel. Check pre-snap for single high safety looks since the deep crossing route stresses the middle of the field against Cover 1 and Cover 3. Hot route the flat route into a quick out if you see aggressive man coverage jumping the crossers so you have a built in answer against press. Pair this play with Inside Zone or Read Option from the same set to keep defenders honest on run fits before dialing up PA Fork to hit the play-action window. Sequence it after HB Angle or Stick to condition linebackers to sit on shorter routes, then punish them with the deep dig and crossing route combo.
