Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
PA HB Look uses a play-action fake to the HB to hold the linebackers before the QB works a route concept built to attack all three levels. The backside X runs a deep vertical clear-out to pull the corner and safety, the slot receiver runs a deep out/comeback breaking toward the sideline, and the TE runs a corner route from the boundary that stems inside then breaks to the flag. The playside receiver runs a shallow drag underneath while the HB fakes protection before checking down into the flat, giving the QB a quick underneath option if the levels behind it are covered. This is a play-action shot play designed to beat man coverage on the corner and out combo while giving a built-in answer versus zone drops with the drag and flat check.
Defensive Reads
Read the safety alignment before the snap, a single high safety indicates man or zone coverage that is vulnerable to the TE corner route working to the flag. Watch linebacker depth and gap discipline immediately after the snap, if they bite hard on the HB fake it opens up the intermediate window for the drag and the deep comeback route. Key the corner playing over the TE, if he sits outside with no safety help over the top the corner route wins, but if there is two high safety help rotating over that same corner it becomes a much tighter throw. Identify blitz packages pre-snap by counting box defenders, if the defense brings extra rushers the HB check down in the flat becomes the primary answer against a hot blitz. Watch for a user-controlled defender lurking in the shallow middle since that defender can jump the drag route or undercut the comeback route if the QB holds the ball too long.
Usage Tips
Sell the play-action fake with a full commitment on the joystick press so linebackers bite and open throwing lanes for the corner route. Use this on early downs like first or second and medium when defenses are more likely to respect the run fake and play tighter zone or man coverage. Pre-snap, look for single high safety shells since that tells you the corner route from the TE has a strong chance to win one on one against a corner playing outside leverage. Hot route the drag runner into a deeper drag or spot route if you see zone drops sitting shallow, and check down to the HB in the flat versus aggressive blitzes to punish overpursuit. Pair this play with HB Dive or Inside Zone earlier in a sequence to set up the run fake, then call PA HB Look once the defense starts crashing downhill on run reads.
