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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
PA Misdirect Shot is a deep play-action shot play out of Singleback Doubles that sells a misdirection run fake before releasing receivers vertically to attack the back end of the defense. The backfield action forces linebackers and safeties to bite on the run fake, opening up explosive one on one matchups down the field, making this a man beater against aggressive run fits and a big play answer against single high shells. The primary read progression starts with the deep shot route created off the misdirection fake, then works to the intermediate crosser or dig as a checkdown if the safety stays deep and takes away the shot.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify the safety alignment first, since a single high safety cheating up into the box is the biggest green light for this shot concept. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they crash hard on the misdirection fake it confirms they are in a run first mentality and the play action window will be wide open. Post-snap, key the deep safety's break, if he sits and reads the quarterback's eyes instead of biting on the fake, the shot route will be contested and you should progress to the underneath option. Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets exposed by this play, while split safety zone shells like Cover 2 or Cover 4 shrink the vertical window and force you to check down. Beware disguised Cover 1 or Cover 3 blitz packages, since a fast interior blitz can beat the play action fake before the shot route develops, so account for a user spy or blitzer coming off the edge.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs like first and ten or second and short so the run fake actually has leverage on the linebackers and safeties.
Check pre-snap for single high shells like Cover 3 or Cover 1, since the misdirection fake holds the strong safety or free safety just long enough to win over the top.
Hot route the underneath checkdown into a flat or drag if you see two deep safeties presenting Cover 2 or Cover 4, since the shot route will be harder to win against split safety help.
Pair this with HB Misdirection or HB Counter earlier in a drive so the defense starts keying run action from that backfield look, then punish overaggressive linebacker flow with this shot play.
Use motion pre-snap to identify man versus zone before the snap, then trust the shot route if a corner is showing hard man technique with no safety help over the top.
