PA Read out of Singleback Y Trips uses a play-action fake to hold the linebackers before releasing four receivers into a stretched horizontal and vertical combo. The trips side runs a corner route up the numbers off the deep defender's outside shoulder while the middle receiver runs a flat/out breaking to the sideline, and the backside X runs a deep dig that flattens across the field for a big chunk gain versus zone. This is a play-action based man and zone beater with the primary read starting on the corner route to the deep hole defender, working down to the flat route if the cornerback sits on top, then coming back to the deep crossing dig as the true progression outlet.

Defensive Reads

Check the strong safety depth before the snap, a shallow alignment signals he is sitting on the flat or corner route Watch for a single high safety rotating late, which usually means man coverage underneath and opens the corner route against outside leverage corners Identify if the defense brings a linebacker blitz off the edge, since this beats aggressive blitz packages if the play-action fake gets the second level defenders to bite User lurk defenders sitting in the middle of the field can jump the deep dig route, so be ready to look off that defender before committing to the crossing route Cover 3 shells with a deep middle defender can undercut the corner route if the quarterback throws too early, so timing the release after the fake is critical

Usage Tips

Look pre-snap for two high safeties or a single high shell before the snap, since this play attacks both zone and man depending on the shell you get

If you see man coverage, key the corner route first because it stresses the deep defender's outside leverage and creates a natural pick versus tight man

Against zone coverage, work through your progression quickly to the deep dig since it settles into the void behind underneath zone defenders and in front of deep zone defenders

Use this on early downs or second and medium situations where the play-action fake has the best chance to hold linebackers and second level defenders

Pair this with a quick game play like Stick or Curls from the same set to keep the defense honest against the play-action look before hitting them with PA Read later in a series

PA Read

Quick Reference

In 3 playbooks

Receiver routes

Read progression

Breakdown

Defensive Reads

Usage Tips

Other Plays in Y Trips