Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA FL Dive is a play-action pass out of Singleback Wing Slot that sells the dive fake to the backfield before working a five man route concept. On the diagram the outside receiver runs a vertical seam that breaks up the numbers, the slot receiver runs a dig that sits down over the middle after crossing the field, and the flanker on the line runs a quick hitch. On the strong side the TE releases on a deep corner route while the wing runs a flat route underneath it, creating a natural high low stretch on that side. The primary read progression starts with the deep corner to flat stretch on the strong side, moves to the dig sitting in the middle void, and comes back to the hitch and seam if the coverage rolls away from the play action fake.
Defensive Reads
Pre snap, check safety depth and count the box, since a stacked box with safeties creeping down signals the defense is selling out on the run fake, opening up the corner route over the top. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they bite hard on the dive fake the middle dig route will have a wide open throwing lane. Identify man coverage by looking for defenders turning their backs to the quarterback in press alignment, which makes the corner route and dig route difficult to cover due to the natural picks created by the route concept. Zone coverage with a single high safety is vulnerable to the flat and corner combo since the flat defender cannot cover both underneath and over the top at once. This play struggles against disciplined zone defenses that keep linebackers home against the run fake and against user controlled lurk defenders who sit in the shallow middle to jump the dig route, so be ready to climb the progression to the seam or hitch if you see a defender sink into that window immediately.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs when defenses are keying run tendencies from Wing Slot personnel, since the dive fake plays best against teams that respect your ground game. Check the strong side corner to flat combo first because it punishes both man coverage with the corner route and zone coverage with the flat sitting under it. If the defense shows two high safeties pre snap, prioritize the dig route since it settles into the void vacated by underneath linebackers dropping to their zones. Hot route the backside hitch into a fade or slant against aggressive corners playing press man to give yourself an extra vertical shot. Pair this play with HB Dive and Inside Zone Split earlier in a drive so the play action fake carries more weight when you finally call PA FL Dive, then follow it later with PA TE Scissors or PA Y-poco from the same formation to keep defenders guessing on run versus pass.
