Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Belly Shot is a play-action deep shot out of Singleback Ace Overload 11 personnel. The play sells the belly run fake to the backfield before the QB works a vertical route concept: the outside receiver runs a deep post from the top of the screen, the flanker on the left runs a corner breaking route off a vertical stem, and the slot receiver runs a quick out that doubles as a checkdown or man beater underneath. The blocking scheme holds the line for run-action protection to sell the fake before shifting to pass pro, and the primary read progression starts with the deep post, works to the corner breaking route, and comes down to the underneath out route if both are covered.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high safety alignment since that tells you the post and corner breaking route both have a favorable numbers advantage against Cover 3 or Cover 1. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they step up hard on the run fake it confirms they are biting and the post route behind them should be wide open. Post-snap, key the deep safety's first two steps, if he flows toward the post the corner breaking route on the opposite side becomes the better shot. Look for user-controlled defenders sitting in a deep third or playing lurk near the corner breaking route stem, that indicates the defense is baiting the shot and you should check down to the underneath out. This play struggles against Cover 4 or Cover 2 shells with two deep safeties, since the shot routes lose the vertical space needed and the underneath out becomes your only real answer.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs like first or second and short to medium distance so the play action fake actually influences linebacker and safety run fits.
Check pre-snap for single high safety looks such as Cover 3 or Cover 1, since those shells create the most vertical space for the post and corner breaking route.
If the defense shows two high safeties pre-snap, be ready to bail out early to the underneath out route since the deep shots will be capped.
Hot route the underneath receiver into a hitch or speed out against aggressive man coverage corners to give yourself a quick answer if the shot routes are jumped.
Pair this shot play with HB Belly Weak and HB Stretch earlier in a series so the defense keys the run action and bites, opening up the exact same look for this deep shot.
