Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Solid Corner is a play-action pass out of Singleback Trio with 11 personnel that shows a run fake to hold the linebackers before the QB works the outside routes. The play design features a corner route from the outside receiver breaking to the sideline, a deep post/seam route from the inside slot climbing vertically, and a flat/drag route underneath to give the QB a checkdown against pressure. The primary read progression starts with the corner route to the boundary, moves to the deep post/seam if the corner is taken away, and settles on the underneath drag or flat as the outlet against a hard blitz.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify whether the safety shell is two high or single high, since Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells put extra help on the corner route while single high leaves the boundary corner more exposed. Watch the cornerback press or off alignment on the outside receiver, because press man coverage disrupts the timing of the corner route and forces the QB to hold the ball longer. Post-snap, track the flow of the linebackers on the play-action fake, since defenses that stay disciplined and do not bite on the run fake will get a hat on the underneath drag and take away the checkdown. Look for a user controlled defender lurking in the deep half or sitting on the post/seam route, as that is the biggest threat to the second read in the progression. If the defense brings a nano blitz or overload pressure off the edge, the underneath flat and drag combo becomes the immediate answer, so recognize blitz timing before the snap to speed up your decision.
Usage Tips
Use PA Solid Corner on early downs when the defense is stacking the box, since the play-action fake needs linebackers biting downhill to be effective.
Check the safety alignment pre-snap: if you see a single high safety cheating toward the post/seam route, look to the corner route to the boundary immediately off the play-action.
Hot route the underneath drag into a shallow crosser if you anticipate man coverage, since it gives you a natural pick against man defenders trailing the slot receiver.
Pair this play with HB Dive or HB Zone Wk earlier in a series so the defense respects the run fake, then dial up PA Solid Corner to punish linebackers for flowing to the mesh point.
Avoid calling this on third and long against known blitz-heavy defenses unless you have a quick get rid of it plan, since the corner route takes time to develop and the flat is your only fast answer.
