Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Counter Str opens with a play-action fake off counter action to sell the run before releasing into a three level route combo. The play side TE runs a deep out breaking to the sideline, the backside TE clears vertically on a corner route to the opposite hash, and the outside receiver runs an under route sitting in the middle of the field, while the running back checks release and works to the flat as the safety valve. This is a play-action zone beater built to attack teams that bite on the counter fake, with the primary read progressing from the deep corner route to the sideline out and settling on the flat or the underneath drag if the defense sinks into a deep zone shell.
Defensive Reads
Against Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells with two deep safeties sitting on top, look immediately to the underneath drag and the flat since the corner and out routes will be capped. Against single high safety looks like Cover 1 or Cover 3 with the strong safety cheating into the box for run support, throw the corner route behind him before he can recover deep. Watch for user-controlled linebackers spying the quarterback on the play-action fake, since they can undercut the drag route or blow up the counter mesh point if the defense reads run action instantly. Man coverage teams that blitz off the edge will struggle to defend the flat route and drag combination underneath, so check the running back release before committing to the deep corner. Zone teams that roll a robber defender into the shallow middle can jump the drag route, so be ready to climb the progression to the deep out if the underneath window closes.
Usage Tips
Run this from run-heavy personnel situations like second and short or first and ten so the defense respects the counter action and linebackers step up on the fake. Key the strong side safety pre-snap, if he is sitting at 8 to 10 yards in the counter run lane he is likely to bite and open up the corner route behind him. Hot route the flat running back to a wheel route against man coverage teams that like to spy or blitz off the edge, since the flat defender will often be occupied with run fits. Pair this play with 26 Duo or HB Power O earlier in a series so the defense keys run fits and safeties creep down, then hit them with PA Counter Str as the changeup. Use this on early downs rather than third and long since the play design and clock-eating fake work best when the defense is playing honest run support.
