Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Flood out of Singleback Trips (11 personnel) shows a three level flood concept to the trips side with play action to hold the linebackers. The two outside receivers from the trips bunch run vertical seam routes while the inside slot runs a shallow drag underneath at the sticks, and the tight end or third receiver runs an out route to the flat, stacking three levels (deep, intermediate, short) into the same zone. The lone backside receiver runs a deep dig or crosser across the field, giving you a built in answer if the flood side gets rolled up. Primary read progression goes flat route first to see if the corner sits, then the deep vertical shots if a safety bites on the run fake, working back to the backside crosser last against zone drops.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high versus two high safety shells, this play is designed to punish single high Cover 3 by overloading one side with three route levels. Watch the flat defender post-snap, if he sits on the shallow drag or flat route the vertical seams behind him will be wide open against Cover 3 zone drops. User the deep third defender to the trips side since he is the primary threat who can rob the vertical seam routes if he reads play action quickly. Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells with two deep safeties can shut this down by taking away the vertical shots, forcing you to rely on the shallow drag and backside crosser underneath. Watch for linebacker blitzes off the edge since the play action fake can be exposed by an unblocked edge rusher if protection is not adjusted, check your blocking assignments before the snap against known blitz teams.
Usage Tips
Sell the run fake by letting the play action animation play out fully before you start scanning routes, this is what freezes linebackers and opens the flat and shallow drag underneath.
Use this on early downs when the defense is showing run support or a single high safety look, since the vertical seams punish Cover 3 rotation and single high shells.
If the corner squats on the flat route, hot route the flat man into a corner route or bump the timing to attack the void behind him.
Pair PA Flood with HB Dive or HB Zone Wk in your play calling sequence so the defense respects the run fake and starts biting on the linebacker level, which opens the intermediate window for the drag route.
Against man coverage, key the backside crosser since it naturally beats man leverage by crossing the field away from the flood, use it as a built in answer if your primary flood reads are covered.
