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Breakdown
PA Power O sells the Power O run action out of Singleback Wing Tight Z before releasing three verticals off the fake. The diagram shows a deep post from the outside receiver, a straight vertical seam from the inline tight end, and a shallow drag/flat route underneath crossing from the backfield area, with the offensive line selling gap blocking to freeze linebackers. This is a play-action shot play designed to punish zone defenders who bite on the run fake, with the deep post as the primary read against single high safety looks and the vertical seam as the secondary window if the safety stays over the top.
Defensive Reads
Read the post-snap safety rotation first, if the single high safety steps up to fill the run gap the post route behind him is your shot play. Look for Cover 3 zone defenders staying in their drops instead of biting on the play fake, this eliminates the post window and pushes your eyes to the vertical seam route. Identify man coverage on the tight end running the seam, since a linebacker in man coverage without safety help over the top gets beaten easily by the vertical release. Watch for a blitzing defense sending extra rushers, since a hard edge blitz can collapse the pocket before the deep routes develop, forcing an early checkdown to the shallow drag. Beware of Cover 4 or two high safety shells, since two deep defenders can take away both the post and seam, making the underdrag or checkdown your only realistic outlet.
Usage Tips
Check the safety alignment pre-snap, if you see a single high safety this play is designed to attack the post route behind him once he steps up on the run fake.
Use this on early downs like first and second and ten to keep the defense honest against your Power O run game, the play action only sells if you have already established the run with HB Power O or 26 Duo from this set.
If the corner is playing off coverage on the post side, hot route the shallow drag into a deeper crossing route to stress zone defenders in Cover 3.
Watch the middle linebacker depth before the snap, if he is sitting shallow expecting run he becomes a liability against the vertical seam route.
Pair this play in a sequence with HB Power O and Fake HB Zone QB Boot Lt to keep linebackers guessing between actual run blocks and play action shots off similar formation looks.
