Playbooks
PA Flood out of Singleback U Off Trips Cluster uses play-action to hold the linebackers before flooding one side of the field with three receivers stacked at different levels, typically a deep route, an intermediate out or corner, and a shallow flat or drag from the backfield. The trips cluster alignment naturally overloads one side, forcing the defense to declare zone or man responsibilities before the snap. This is primarily a zone beater designed to stress cornerbacks and flat defenders with a three level vertical stretch, though it also has man beater traits against off coverage due to the natural picks created by the cluster release. The primary read progression starts deep to check for a blown coverage or single high shell, then works down to the intermediate route, and finally settles on the flat route as the checkdown against aggressive underneath coverage.
Identify a single high safety pre-snap, this shell is vulnerable to the deep route in the flood since only one defender is responsible for the entire deep third. Watch for cornerback press alignment on the trips side, press man coverage struggles against the natural rub created by the stacked receivers releasing at different depths. Post-snap, track the flat defender or curl to flat zone defender, if he sinks too deep chasing the intermediate route the shallow flat route will be wide open for an easy pitch and catch. Beware of a Cover 3 buzz rotation where a linebacker or safety drops into the underneath flood zone, this defender is coached to sit on the intermediate route and can jump the route if you stare it down. Watch for a user controlled defender lurking in the shallow zone after the play-action fake, aggressive users will abandon their assignment to jump the flat route so have a hot route escape ready if you see him creeping pre-snap.
Check the safety alignment before the snap, a single high safety tells you the deep route can attack the middle void while a two high shell means you should prioritize the intermediate and flat routes.
Look at the cornerback depth on the trips side, soft corners invite the underneath throws while tight press alignment opens up the double move potential on the deep route.
Use hot routes to adjust the shallow flat route into a quick out if you see a linebacker sitting in that throwing lane, this keeps the flood concept intact while avoiding a jump ball turnover.
This play works best on early downs or second and medium since the play-action fake needs run respect to hold the second level defenders, avoid calling it in obvious passing situations against a defense that is selling out on the pass.
Pair this play with Mtn PA Draw or Inside Zone earlier in a series to establish the run fake, then come back to PA Flood once the defense starts creeping linebackers up to stop the ground game.