Playbooks

PA Zone Shot

Singleback·Doubles·11

Play Action Pass Play Post Streak

Play diagram for PA Zone Shot from Singleback Doubles in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationSingleback

SetDoubles

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 2 playbooks

Balanced Run OffenseOffense Elites OffenseOffense

Breakdown

PA Zone Shot is a play-action shot play out of Singleback Doubles 11 personnel that sells the zone run fake before pushing three receivers vertically. The backside X runs a deep vertical to the boundary, the slot receiver runs a skinny post that breaks into the middle of the field, and the outside Z on the play side sprints straight up the numbers on a go route. With the offensive line selling zone blocking action, the primary read starts with the skinny post as it attacks the seam created by the play-action, working to the vertical shots on either sideline if the safety bites on the run fake.

Defensive Reads

Read the linebacker depth immediately after the snap. If they bite hard on the zone run fake, the middle of the field opens up for the skinny post. Identify single high versus two high safety shells before the snap. Single high is more vulnerable to the post route sneaking behind the linebackers, while two high can rob the post with the deep half defender. Watch for a user controlled safety sitting in a lurk spot in the intermediate middle, since this is the biggest threat to jumping the post route read. Key the cornerbacks on the outside verticals. Press man coverage with no safety help over the top gets beat easily by the go routes if the corner bites on the play-action. Recognize disguised blitzes off the edge. Since this play holds routes long enough to develop, an unblocked edge rusher or nano blitz can collapse the pocket before any of the three verticals or the post fully materialize.

Usage Tips

Call this on early downs (first or second and short to medium) when the defense has shown a heavy dose of run support looks, since the zone action needs defenders flowing downhill to open up the shot routes.

Check the safety depth before the snap. Single high shells with the free safety sitting inside the numbers are prime for this shot because the post route can split the difference before the safety recovers.

Hot route the underneath checkdown or keep the TE in to block if you are facing a heavy pressure package, since the play takes time to develop off the run fake.

Pair this with actual zone run plays like Inside Zone or HB Mid Zone earlier in a series so the defense's linebackers start keying run fits, making the play-action freeze them harder on this shot.

Use pre-snap motion or a shift to identify man versus zone. If the slot defender follows across the formation, the post is your man beater; if he sits and reads, expect zone drops and lean toward the outside verticals instead.