Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Flood out of Singleback U Off Trips (12 personnel) shows a classic three-level flood concept to the trips side. Off the play-action fake, the two inside receivers push vertical seam routes while the flanker or slot runs a deep crossing route toward the backside, and the nearest trips receiver runs a short flat/out route underneath. This is a play-action pass built as a Cover 3 beater, stacking three receivers at different depths (flat, deep cross, and verticals) to stress a single flat defender or deep third defender, with the primary read progressing from the underneath flat route to the intermediate crosser and finally to the vertical seam if the defense is drawn up on the play fake.
Defensive Reads
Read the strong safety and weak safety alignment before the snap, since a single high safety indicates Cover 3 or Cover 1, both of which PA Flood is designed to exploit. Watch the flat defender post-snap, if he sinks with the deep crosser you have a wide open window underneath for the flat route. Key the cornerback over the trips side, if he bails deep at the snap rather than jumping the flat route this confirms zone coverage and opens the underneath progression. Beware of a two high safety shell rotating down into Cover 4 or Cover 2, since this can take away the vertical seam routes and force you to rely solely on the flat and cross combo. Watch for user-controlled linebackers dropping into the passing lanes on the deep cross, a smart defender will sit in that window to bait a turnover, so check the flat route first if you sense a lurk threat.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs like first or second and medium to keep defenses honest against the run fake before leaning on it in obvious pass situations.
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing a single high safety, since PA Flood is designed to punish Cover 3 rotation and static zone shells.
If the cornerback sinks with the deep crosser, hot route the flat runner into a quick out or speed out to get an easy completion underneath.
Pair this play with Inside Zone Split or HB Slam earlier in a drive to sell the run fake and freeze linebackers, making the play-action window more effective.
Combine with PA Boot Slide or PA Dagger U Cross in your play-calling sequence so defenses cannot key on your trips formation tendencies.
