Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Rams Counter is a play-action shot play built off a counter run fake from Singleback Wing Tight Z. Off the fake, the play sends a deep corner/go route straight up the seam to the numbers as the primary vertical shot, a crossing route from the opposite side that works flat underneath into the void left by the run fake, and a short flat route to the boundary as the checkdown. The blocking up front sells the counter action hard, pulling linemen to freeze linebackers before the QB resets to throw, making this a man beater designed to hit the deep corner route against overcommitted safeties or slow-reacting linebackers.
Defensive Reads
Key the flow of the linebackers at the snap, if they bite hard on the counter step and run fake, the seam is open for the corner route sitting behind them. Watch the deep safety alignment pre-snap, a single high shell that steps up to play run is the biggest tell this play will hit for a big gain. Man coverage on the outside receiver running the corner route is a losing rep for the defense unless there is a deep half safety sitting on top. Zone coverage with a hard flat defender can jump the underneath crossing route, so user that flat defender or nickel corner to bait the QB into a low percentage throw. Bring a delayed blitz or spy off the edge to disrupt the play fake timing, since the QB needs a full beat to turn back around after selling the run.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs (1st and 10 or 2nd and short) when the defense is stacking the box to respect HB Power O or 26 Duo out of this same set. Look for single high safety shells pre-snap since the play action counter fake tends to freeze linebackers and hold the deep safety for a beat, opening the seam/corner route. If you see two high safeties rotating down as run support, hot route the corner route into a deep out to attack the vacated sideline. Pair this with HB Power O and HB Counter Wk earlier in a series so the defense keys run action, then dial up PA Rams Counter to punish aggressive linebacker fits. Avoid calling this against heavy zone blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the fake, since the play action mesh point can get disrupted before the pocket sets.
