Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Flood from Singleback Tight Y Off (11 personnel) is a play-action pass that floods one side of the field with three route levels to overload a single cornerback and flat defender. Off the run fake, the outside receiver runs a deep go up the sideline, the TE releases to the flat with a shallow crossing route underneath, and the backside receiver runs a comeback/dig away from the flood side while the RB checks down into a short route near the line. The offensive line shows play-action pass protection, sliding to sell the run before setting up to pass block, and the primary read progression is deep go first, then the intermediate flat route, working backside to the comeback route only if the flood side is fully covered.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and alignment since a single high safety struggles to defend the vertical flood route without help underneath. Watch for a cornerback pressed on the flood side receiver, which signals man coverage and makes the deep go route a strong shot play against most man beaters. Post-snap, key the flat or curl-flat defender's drop, if he sinks with the TE's shallow route the deep go route should be wide open behind him. Identify Cover 3 rotation quickly, since the flood concept is designed specifically to overload the deep third defender on the play side. Beware disciplined Cover 4 or Cover 6 shells where two defenders can split the flood routes, and watch for a user-controlled linebacker sitting in the shallow crossing lane to jump the underneath route.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion or a hard play fake to freeze linebackers before committing to the flood side read.
Attack single high safety shells (Cover 3 or Cover 1) since the vertical stretches the deep third defender while the flat route occupies the underneath zone defender.
If you see Cover 2 or a hard flat defender sitting on the shallow route, hot route the TE to a deeper corner route to stack the coverage instead of settling for the checkdown.
Best called on 2nd and medium to long or early in a series when defenses are still respecting the run fake, since play-action rollouts lose value on obvious passing downs.
Pair this play with Drive Flood or PA Deep Cross from the same set to keep the defense guessing between flood concepts and crossing routes off similar formation looks.
