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Breakdown
PA Mills is a play-action pass out of Singleback Wing Tight 13 personnel that uses the classic Mills concept: a deep post from one side working in tandem with a dig or deep in route crossing underneath it, creating a natural high low read on the safety who has to choose between the two. The run fake threatens the box to hold linebackers and safeties, opening throwing lanes for the post over the top or the dig settling into the vacated middle zone. This is primarily a zone beater designed to attack Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells, and the primary read progression starts with the post to see if the deep safety bites on run action, then works down to the dig or in route if the top is capped.
Defensive Reads
Key the free safety at the snap, if he steps up on the run fake before locating the post route this play is live for a big shot down the field. Watch for Cover 3 sky or buzz rotations, since a single high safety often cannot cover both the post and the dig, forcing a defined choice you can exploit with the correct read. Identify Cover 4 quarters shells pre-snap by checking corner depth and safety width, this play is a designated Cover 4 beater because the post occupies the deep quarter defender while the dig sits in the seam void. Watch for user linebackers spying the dig or sinking into the passing lane, a smart user player will lurk under the crossing route and jump the throw if the quarterback stares it down too long. Beware disguised Cover 2 man or Tampa 2 looks with a rangy deep safety who can rob the post, in that case check down to the underneath route or the checkdown option instead of forcing the deep shot.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs or 2nd and medium when defenses are more willing to bite on the play fake and load the box. Check pre-snap for two high safeties versus one high, since Cover 4 with two deep safeties is the shell this play is built to punish if the corner or safety flows with run action. Hot route the underneath crosser into a quick out or shallow drag against man coverage if you diagnose Cover 1 or Cover 0 pre-snap, since the natural Mills combo does not separate as cleanly against tight man coverage. Pair this with HB Inside Zone or HB Power O earlier in a series so the run fake carries real weight and linebackers start stepping up. Sequence PA Mills with Y Stick or Quick Slant on the next snap to keep the defense honest between shot plays and quick game, preventing them from sitting on the play-action shell.
