Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Power Shallow Cross fakes the power run action to hold the linebackers before releasing three receivers into a layered passing concept. The shallow cross drags all the way across the formation underneath, while the two outside receivers push vertically up the seams before one breaks back across the middle on a deep dig. This is a play-action man beater at its core, using the shallow drag to pull man defenders into traffic while the crossing routes stretch zone defenders horizontally. The primary read starts with the shallow drag underneath, then progresses to the deep dig breaking back across the field, with the vertical seam route as the final checkdown against a busted coverage.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check linebacker depth and shade, since stacked or blitz-heavy fronts get exposed by the shallow drag once the run fake pulls them forward. Watch for a user-controlled defender spying the shallow crosser, as a well-timed lurk can jump the drag route and turn it into a turnover. Cover 2 with aggressive corners at the line can disrupt the outside vertical stems before they threaten the deep dig, so check flat defenders pre-snap. Post-snap, track the middle linebacker's drop, since a fast scrape to the dig route lane signals zone coverage and means the shallow drag is the better outlet. Man coverage with no safety help over the top leaves the deep dig vulnerable once it clears the crossing traffic, so watch for single-high safety rotation at the snap.
Usage Tips
Sell the play-action fake by holding the ball on the initial run mesh point to freeze linebackers before your first read develops.
Use this on early downs against defenses that are keying the run, since the power fake plays off Mtn Inside Zone and Power O in this set to keep linebackers honest.
If the defense shows Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells pre-snap, prioritize the deep dig since the shallow drag will run into underneath zone traffic.
Against man coverage looks, take the shallow drag first since it creates natural rubs and separation against trailing defenders.
Pair this call with Mtn PA Cross Switch or Mtn PA X Over later in a series so the defense has to respect multiple crossing concepts off similar action.
