Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Zone Shot from Shotgun Y Off Trips fakes the zone run action then sends three vertical shot routes up the field, with the outer trips receiver breaking outside on a deep out or corner look while the two inside trips receivers run deep angling posts toward the middle of the field. This is a play-action shot play built to attack aggressive zone and man defenders after they bite on the run fake, with a clear high low read on the middle two verticals as the primary progression before working outside to the boundary route.
Defensive Reads
Key the middle linebacker and strong safety at the snap since their reaction to the zone run fake tells you if they are in run support or dropping into coverage. Watch for a single high safety cheating toward the box pre-snap, this signals man coverage or Cover 3 that leaves the two inside verticals open behind the linebackers in the seam. Against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells, look for the corner sinking with the outside vertical route, if he stays flat footed on the play fake the deep out over the top of him is the window. User controlled lurk defenders sitting in the middle of the field will jump the inside verticals, so if you see a defender spying that area pre-snap, work the boundary route instead. Heavy blitz packages with six or more rushers will get to the quarterback fast, so this play struggles versus all out pressure unless the play-action freezes an extra rusher long enough to buy a clean launch point.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs like first or second and short to sell the run fake against defenses keying run tendencies from your zone game. Check the pre-snap safety alignment: single high shells with the safety cheating up in the box are prime targets since the middle verticals will split the seams. If you see two high safeties rotating hard at the snap, be ready to climb the pocket and hit the deep out breaking to the boundary since it beats off man leverage. Pair this with Inside Zone and Outside Zone earlier in a drive to condition the defense into biting on the run fake, then dial this up once linebackers start crashing downhill on snap recognition. Hot route the boundary receiver into a hitch if you see press man with no safety help over the top, giving you a quick answer versus all out blitz looks.
