Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 16 playbooks
Breakdown
PA WR In is a play-action pass out of Shotgun Y Off Trio Wk that uses run-fake blocking up front to hold the second level while the trips side and backside receiver work a combination of deep breaking routes. Off the fake, the two trips receivers push vertically and break outward toward the sideline (deep outs) while the inside trips receiver runs a shallow crosser underneath to the opposite hash, occupying the shallow zone vacated by the run fake. On the backside, the isolated receiver runs a deep in that sits down or continues across the middle depending on leverage, giving you a true intermediate crosser to combine with the two outbreaking routes on the boundary. This is a zone beater at its core, designed to stress the middle and sideline hooks simultaneously, with the primary read progressing from the backside deep in first, then to the shallow crosser working across the field, and finally to the two deep outs on the trips side if the play holds up long enough.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing single high safety, which signals man coverage or Cover 3 and opens up the backside deep in against a lurking linebacker. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, since shallow or hesitant linebackers reacting to play action leave the shallow crosser wide open in the vacated middle zone. Post-snap, track the flat defender on the trips side, because if he widens with the outbreaking routes it opens a passing lane for the shallow crosser working underneath. Beware of Cover 2 Man or man concepts with a deep safety help over the top, since the deep outs can be squeezed by sideline leverage corners playing outside technique. This play struggles against disciplined zone defenses that keep linebackers at proper depth without biting on the run fake, so look for delayed blitzes or spy linebackers sitting on the crossing route.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to bait linebackers into biting on the play fake before checking safety depth for two high versus single high shells.
Against Cover 3 or Cover 4, prioritize the backside deep in since it sits in the seam between the flat defender and the deep third defender.
Against Cover 2 zones with aggressive corners jumping the flat, hot route the shallow crosser to continue running to create explosive yardage after the catch.
This play pairs well with Slants or Quick Unders earlier in a drive to soften up underneath defenders, making the intermediate crossers hit even harder once linebackers start sitting on quick game.
Best called on second or third and medium when defenses expect a quick passing concept, since the play action freezes run fits and opens the deep in and shallow cross combo.
Combine with HB Base or Inside Zone as a setup run to sell the fake more convincingly against defenses keying run tendencies.
