Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Zone Shot is a play-action deep shot concept out of Singleback Doubles 11 personnel. Off the run fake, the outside receiver runs a vertical stem into a corner route, the slot receiver breaks off a skinny post, the backside receiver on the boundary side runs a straight vertical seam, and the running back leaks out on a shallow angle route underneath as the checkdown or outlet. The primary read progression starts with the corner route to the field, works to the post as the second read against single high shells, and dumps down to the RB angle route if both deep routes are covered.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify the number of safeties and their depth, single high shells are more vulnerable to the post and corner combo while two high shells force you to rely on the post splitting the safeties. Watch linebacker depth before the snap, if they are stacked tight to the box expecting run, the play-action freeze will hold them and open up the underlying angle route for the RB. Post snap, key any user-controlled defender dropping into a deep third or lurking the middle of the field, since that defender can undercut the post route if he reads the play-action fake quickly. This concept struggles against aggressive man press coverage with a deep safety over the top, since the corner and post routes need time to develop and press disrupts the timing. Cover 3 with a fast-flowing linebacker to the flat can take away the RB angle route, so if you see that rotation, commit to the deep corner or post read immediately off the fake.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs or 2nd and manageable when defenses expect run so the play-action freeze actually holds linebackers and safeties.
Check the safety alignment before the snap: if you see two high safeties bail into a shell post snap, that is your cue to work the post route since it will split the seam between them.
Against single high looks, prioritize the corner route first since it attacks the boundary before the deep safety can rotate over.
Use the RB angle route as a built-in answer to disguised blitzes, it releases quickly and beats overload pressure that the play-action fake cannot hold.
Pair this play in sequence with HB Dive or Inside Zone earlier in a drive so the run fake sells hard, then call PA Zone Shot to hit the defense for an explosive gain once they start keying the run action.
