Playbooks
PA Fl Stretch is a play-action pass off the outside zone run action out of Singleback East Tight, 13 personnel. The offensive line sells the outside zone stretch blocking scheme while the fullback or attached tight end works a flat route, with a flood concept building behind it to attack one side of the field vertically and horizontally. This is a play-action man beater and zone beater in one, since the run fake occupies linebackers and the flood puts high low stress on the flat defender, so the primary read progression starts with the deep route to see if a safety bites on the run fake, then works down to the intermediate route in the flood, and finishes at the flat as the checkdown.
Pre-snap, identify single high versus two high safety shells, single high defenses are more vulnerable to the deep shot off the run fake. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they step up hard to play run the flood concept behind them will have easy throwing lanes. Post-snap, key the flat defender in man coverage, aggressive user jumps on the flat route open up the intermediate crosser immediately. Zone defenses that stay disciplined and sink their curl flat defender can take away the flood read, forcing the quarterback to hold the ball longer. Watch for a user controlled defender lurking in the shallow zone or spying underneath, since that defender can rob the flat route if the quarterback stares it down. Corner blitzes or nano blitz packages off the edge can be an issue since the flow of the run fake steps offensive line protection away from the play side, so account for edge pressure pre-snap.
Run this from run heavy personnel situations like 1st and 10 or 2nd and short so the defense respects the outside zone fake and linebackers step up.
Check the safety alignment pre-snap, if you see two high safeties sitting deep the play action fake will not hold them and you should lean on the flood route instead of forcing the deep shot.
Against man coverage, key the flat route defender, if a linebacker or slot corner bites hard on the flat the intermediate route behind it will be wide open on the crossing window.
Hot route the backside receiver into a quick drag or slant if you are getting a hard blitz look, this gives you a rhythm throw answer without relying on the play fake.
Pair this with HB Plunge or HB Counter WK earlier in a series to establish the run fake credibility, then call PA Fl Stretch to punish linebackers and safeties for flowing to the zone action.