Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
PA Read is a play-action pass out of Shotgun Y Trips Offset Wk that dresses up like an outside zone run before the QB shows the ball and works a trips concept to the boundary. Off the play fake, the trips side runs a corner route from the outside receiver stretching the sideline, a deep dig from the slot working across the middle of the field, and a short flat route underneath from the third receiver, while the offset back leaks out to the opposite flat for a checkdown. The primary read starts with the dig, since it settles into the void created by the vertical clear-out on the corner route, and the QB works from that in-cut to the flat if the underneath defender jumps the throwing lane.
Defensive Reads
Key the flow of the linebackers at the snap, since aggressive run fits that bite hard on the play fake open up the dig route running behind them. Watch for a single high safety rotating late, which signals man coverage underneath and a chance to jump the dig route with a user controlled linebacker or nickel defender. Zone shells with two deep safeties take away the corner route over the top, so sink underneath defenders into the dig lane to force the checkdown to the flat or the outlet back. Disguise blitz pressure by delaying the edge rush off the play fake, since the offense is banking on the run read holding defenders long enough for routes to develop downfield. If the offense shows this look repeatedly from Y Trips Offset Wk, start jumping the flat and dig combination with a user linebacker to bait a corner route throw into tighter coverage.
Usage Tips
Sell the run fake by holding the play call late off inside zone or outside zone from this same set so linebackers bite on the run action.
Use this on early downs, especially first and second and short to medium yardage, where defenses are more likely to sit in run support and bite the play fake.
Pre-snap, look for two deep safeties or a single high safety cheating toward the trips side, since that tells you whether the corner or the dig will be the cleaner throw.
If you see man coverage with no safety help over the top, hot route the corner route to a hitch or throw it early on a rub since the dig into man coverage can get picked off by underneath defenders sitting in throwing lanes.
Pair this with HB Draw or Read Option from the same set to keep second level defenders honest and set up the play fake for bigger explosive gains later in the drive.
