Playbooks
PA End Around out of Singleback Bunch Base is a play-action trick play built to punish aggressive run defense and linebackers who flow hard on flow-fake tendencies. The play action sells the End Around/jet motion look before the QB pulls and works a play-action pass concept off the fake, with the offensive line executing run blocks to hold defensive ends and force overpursuit. This is primarily a man beater since it exploits linebackers and safeties who bite on the run action, leaving voids in the intermediate zones. The primary read progression starts with the receiver breaking open off the play fake, usually a crosser or dig working away from the flow, then works to the underneath checkdown if the deep window is not there.
Pre-snap, check linebacker depth and alignment since stacked or crashing backers signal aggressive run fits that this play is designed to exploit Watch safety rotation before the snap, if both safeties cheat toward the box or show run support look for a deep shot behind them once the fake happens Post-snap, key the flow of the linebackers, if they bite hard on the end around action and flow laterally that confirms the play-action window is opening underneath and intermediate Identify any user-controlled defender spying the backfield or sitting in a lurk technique in the shallow zone, since a disciplined spy or lurk defender can jump the primary route and blow up the concept This play struggles against Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells with disciplined zone drops and defensive ends who stay home on contain, since those coverages do not overcommit to the run fake and take away both the deep and underneath windows
Run this on early downs like first or second and short to medium yardage so the run fake actually holds linebacker eyes and safety rotation
Watch for defenses stacking the box or showing run blitz pre-snap since that tells you the fake will freeze defenders longer and open the play-action window
Hot route the underneath receiver into a shallow drag if you see man coverage across the board to give yourself a built-in checkdown against blitz pressure
Pair this call with HB Counter and End Around Lead earlier in a series so the defense keys run fast flow, making the PA fake off the same bunch look even more deceptive later
Avoid calling this against defenses that have already shown disciplined linebacker eye control or against heavy Cover 3 shells with sound zone drops, since the fake will not manipulate honest defenders