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Breakdown
PA Counter out of Singleback Ace 12 personnel sells the counter run action to the play side before the QB pulls and works a play-action pass concept off it. The counter step from the HB and the pulling linemen freeze linebackers and safeties who key run fits, opening throwing lanes underneath and intermediate. This is a play-action shot play built to punish teams that key on run action, with the primary read starting on the deep route to see if the safety bites on the fake, then working down to the intermediate crosser or out breaking route, and finally checking down if both are covered.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify safety depth and leverage since a single high safety who creeps down for run support is the biggest tell this play will hit. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they step up hard into the counter fake instead of sitting in their zone drops, the intermediate and deep windows will open immediately behind them. Post-snap, key any user controlled defender flowing toward the counter action, since that lurk threat leaving his zone is exactly what this play is designed to exploit. This play struggles against disciplined zone defenses like Cover 4 or Cover 2 Man where safeties stay home and do not respect the run fake, so expect tight coverage on the deep route in those shells. Watch for delayed blitzes or contain blitzes off the edge, since the play action fake takes extra time to develop and a well timed nano blitz can beat the protection before the QB can climb the pocket and throw.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs like first and ten or second and short so the defense respects the run fake and linebackers step up into the counter action. Check the defense pre-snap for two deep safeties versus one high, since a single high safety is more likely to bite on the counter action and open up the deep shot. If you see Cover 3 or Cover 1 with aggressive run support, trust the play action to hold the second level defenders and hit the deep route in the window they vacate. Against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells where safeties stay deep, hot route your intermediate options into man beating combos or drag the crosser underneath the linebackers who bit on the fake. Sequence this with HB Counter or HB Counter Str earlier in a drive so the defense has already seen the run version, then dial up PA Counter to capitalize on linebackers flowing hard to the mesh point. Avoid calling this against defenses stacking the box on early downs since the run fake will not sell and the pass rush will get home before routes develop.
