Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Flood is a play-action pass out of Singleback East 12 personnel that shows a three-level flood concept to the strong side. The X receiver runs a deep vertical to clear the top, the TE releases from the backfield area on a corner/flag route into the flat-to-intermediate zone, and the outside receiver on that side runs a shallow flat route underneath, creating a high-low-low stretch on the sideline. The backside X runs a deep vertical crosser to hold the opposite safety. Blocking is play-action with the run fake drawing linebackers up, and the primary read progression goes from the deep corner route first, down to the flat route underneath if the corner is taken away.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify the safety alignment: a single high safety or two safeties rotating late tells you if this is Cover 3 or Cover 1, both of which the flood concept is designed to punish. Post-snap, key the flat defender's depth and width, if he sinks too deep on the corner route the underneath flat route will be wide open for an easy checkdown. Watch the curl-flat defender's initial run fit, aggressive linebacker flow toward the play-action fake opens up the intermediate flat area for the TE. User the deep third defender to that side and stay on top of the corner route, since that is the primary route the QB wants to hit first. Cover 2 with two deep safeties can shut this down if the safety to the flood side stays disciplined and does not bite on the run fake, squeezing the corner route into tight coverage.
Usage Tips
Look for single high safety shells like Cover 3 or Cover 1 pre-snap since the flood concept overloads one side of the field and stresses the flat defender, curl defender and deep third defender simultaneously.
Use play-action from run-heavy personnel and early in the drive to sell the fake, then attack on second or third and short to medium distance when defenses respect the run.
Hot route the backside vertical into a slant or drag if you diagnose man coverage, since flood concepts are primarily built to beat zone but the backside route can be adjusted for extra man beater equity.
Combine PA Flood with HB Off Tackle or Inside Zone Split earlier in a sequence so linebackers start biting on run action, making the corner route and flat route easier throws with cleaner windows.
Pair this call with Y-dig Inside Hook or Verticals X Cross on the follow-up play to keep defenders honest against the flood look, since both stress similar zone landmarks but attack differently.
