Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
PA Middle out of Singleback Wing Tight Z is a play-action shot play built off a middle run fake to hold the linebackers and safeties. The diagram shows three routes to the play side: an out breaking receiver settling and running to the sideline off the numbers, a deep crosser working from the opposite side all the way across the field on a flat angle, and a corner route from the inline TE attacking the deep middle to outside third. The lone receiver to the closed side runs a deep dig that cuts back across the field from the far boundary. Primary read progression starts with the deep dig against single high safety looks, moves to the TE corner route if the safety widens, and checks down to the shallow crosser or out route if the middle is jumped.
Defensive Reads
Pre snap, identify single high versus two high safety alignment since this concept is designed to punish single high shells like Cover 1 and Cover 3 with the deep dig and corner combo. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they bite hard on the run fake and get sucked up, the crosser and dig will have wide open throwing lanes underneath and over the top. User controlled defenders sitting in a deep third or playing lurk in the middle of the field are the biggest threat to this play, they can jump the dig or undercut the corner route if the quarterback stares down a receiver. Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells with safeties staying deep take away the corner and dig routes, forcing the quarterback into the shorter flat and crosser options which are lower value throws. Watch for a blitz off the edge or a nano blitz look pre snap, since play action drops take longer to set up and this play is vulnerable to a fast interior pressure if protection is not adjusted with a hot route or extra blocker.
Usage Tips
Sell the play fake by holding the analog stick through the run animation before releasing into your drop, this manipulates linebackers and freezes the strong safety on tape.
Use this on early downs (1st and 10 or 2nd and short to medium) since the deep drops in the route concept need time to develop against Cover 3 or Cover 1 shells.
If the defense shows two high safeties pre snap, hot route the crosser into a shorter option or check to a quick game play from this set like Curl Flat instead of forcing the deep dig.
Pair this with HB Inside Zone or 26 Duo from the same formation earlier in a drive so the run fake actually threatens linebackers and safeties when you come back to PA Middle.
Against man coverage, key the TE corner route as your first read since it creates natural separation on the break against most linebackers and slower safeties in man.
Use motion or a hard count to bait a safety rotation, then attack the vacated deep middle with the dig route.
