Playbooks
Breakdown
PA TE Flood is a play-action pass out of Singleback Wing 12 personnel that floods one side of the field with three route levels to attack Cover 3 and other zone shells. Off the run fake, the backside TE runs a deep crosser to the opposite hash while the frontside stacks a vertical seam, an out breaking corner route, and a flat route from the running back underneath, creating a high low low flood read on one side of the field. The primary progression starts with the deep corner route as the top read, works down to the flat route as the underneath zone beater, and comes back to the deep crosser if the flood side gets taken away by rotation.
Defensive Reads
Read the strong safety and cornerback depth before the snap: rolled up corners and a single high safety indicate Cover 3, which is exactly what this flood concept is designed to exploit. Watch the flat defender after the snap, since if a linebacker or nickel sinks under the corner route without respecting the flat, the underneath throw to the running back is there immediately. Key the deep safety rotation, if he stays home in the middle of the field instead of rotating to the flood side, the corner route window tightens and the crosser on the backside becomes the better answer. Beware disguised two high shells that roll late into Cover 3, since this play loses efficiency against true Cover 4 or Cover 2 with two deep defenders splitting the flood side evenly. Watch for a user controlled linebacker spying the play-action fake instead of biting, which signals he may be sitting in a passing lane ready to jump the flat or drag route.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs or manageable third downs when you expect single high safety looks, since the flood concept is built to punish Cover 3 rotation. Check the pre-snap safety alignment: if you see two deep safeties splitting the field, hot route the corner route into a quick out or peek the deep crosser sooner since Cover 3 beaters lose some value against Cover 4 or Cover 2. Sell the run fake fully before your first read to keep the linebackers and safety honest, since a rushed play-action fake tips your hand and lets defenders sit on the flood side. Pair this play with 26 Duo or HB Power O earlier in a series so the play-action fake carries real weight against run blitzes and aggressive linebacker flow. If the user drops a defender into the flat to jump the underneath route, work the deep corner route or come back to the crossing TE on the backside for an explosive gain over the middle.
