Playbooks
Depth-chart slots are shown as they line up in the base package for this set.
| Player | Side | Route |
|---|---|---|
| HB1 | Middle | Flat |
| TE2 | Left | Pass Block |
| WR2 | Left | Speed In |
| WR1 | Right | Post Sit |
| TE1 | Right | Block and Release Flat |
PA Z Swirl is a play-action pass out of Singleback 12 personnel that uses a hard fake to the HB to hold the linebackers before the QB works a swirl route from the Z receiver that settles into the intermediate middle of the field. The design pairs the Z swirl with a vertical or corner route from one TE and an underneath check option from the other TE or backfield leak, giving the QB a clear high-low read against zone coverage. This is primarily a zone beater built to attack linebackers who bite on the run fake, though it also holds up against man coverage if the swirl route finds a natural pick or rub off the TE alignment. The primary progression starts with the vertical shot off the play fake, then works down to the Z swirl settling in the void, and finishes with the checkdown release if both are covered.
Identify the middle linebacker depth at the snap, if he steps up hard on the run fake, the swirl route window opens immediately in the intermediate middle. Watch for a robber or lurk defender sitting in the shallow middle zone, this is the primary defender who can jump the swirl route and bait an interception if the QB stares it down. Cover 3 with aggressive linebacker run fits gets exposed the most by this play since the seam and swirl window opens fast behind the second level. Man coverage with a deep single high safety can still shut this down if the safety reads play action quickly and rotates over the top of the swirl route. Watch for blitz packages that send extra defenders through the A or B gap, since a fast interior blitz can beat the play action fake before the swirl route has time to develop, forcing a quick checkdown.
Run this on early downs, especially second and medium, when defenses are more willing to respect the run fake and bite on linebacker flow.
Check the safety alignment before the snap, if you see two high safeties sitting deep, the play action freeze will not hold them as effectively, so be ready to work the swirl route as your primary target instead of chasing the vertical shot.
Use motion or a quick glance to identify man versus zone before the snap, if corners are lined up in press with no safety help over the top, consider hot routing the swirl into a speed out or slant to beat man leverage.
Pair this with HB Dive earlier in a series to sell the run threat, then call PA Z Swirl once the defense starts keying on the ground game, this sequencing punishes linebackers who crash downhill.
If the defense adjusts by dropping extra zone defenders underneath, counter by calling PA Deep Cross or PA Deep Read from the same set to attack the vacated deep middle instead of the swirl window.