Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Deep Out is a play-action pass out of Singleback Tight Y Off Flex with 11 personnel that uses a run fake to hold the linebackers before attacking the deep outside thirds. Off the play fake, both the flanker and the tight end release vertically up the seam before breaking hard toward the sideline on deep out routes at the top of the route stem, while the backside receiver runs a shallow drag across the field underneath to give you a checkdown against pressure or blitz looks. The primary read progression starts with the deep out to the tight end side (since it clears against zone drops), then works to the flanker's deep out on the opposite side, and finally comes down to the drag route if both outs are covered.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing single high or two high safeties, since two high shells give the deep outs more room to work against soft zone corners. Watch linebacker depth at the snap: if they bite hard on the play fake, both deep outs will have a clean throwing window against man and most zone drops. This play struggles versus Cover 3 with disciplined zone corners who sink into the deep out lane and versus man coverage with a safety robbing the flat, since those defenders can undercut the breaking point of the route. Key on user controlled defenders near the flat and intermediate zones since a lurking user safety or linebacker can jump the out route break and turn it into a pick if the quarterback is late. Post-snap, if you see a corner blitz or overload pressure off the edge, get to the drag route immediately as your answer since it is the fastest developing route on the play.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs like first or second and short to mid distance so the play fake actually holds the linebackers and safeties instead of getting ignored on obvious passing downs. Check the safety alignment pre-snap: if you see two high safeties sitting deep, the out routes will have room to sit down in front of them since the corners have to respect the vertical stem first. Hot route the drag route into a deeper crossing route if you are facing zone heavy defenses that like to sit underneath, since that route is already the answer versus man coverage as a shallow beater. Pair this with PA Boot Slide or PA Jet Sweep earlier in a drive so the defense starts biting on the run fake, which opens up the deep out windows even more on this call. Against aggressive user blitzers, get the ball out to the tight end's deep out quickly since that route breaks first and gives you a built in answer to interior pressure.
