Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Stretch out of Singleback Y Trips sells outside zone action to the backfield before pulling into a play-action pass with three routes attacking the boundary. The X receiver runs a deep dig/post breaking hard inside off the top of the screen, while the two trips receivers execute a levels-style combo, one sitting on a deep crosser dragging across the formation and the other running a corner route from the outside slot. The TE releases into the flat as a checkdown. This is a zone beater built to punish flow-following linebackers and safeties who bite on the run fake, with the primary read progressing from the deep crossing route working from the far hash back to the corner route, and the flat as the outlet.
Defensive Reads
Watch the safety depth pre-snap. Two-high shells that stay true post-snap will squeeze the corner route, so look to the deep crosser instead. Key the linebackers for run blitz or fire zone pressure. If they crash hard on the play fake, the middle of the field opens up for the crossing route immediately. Identify man coverage by press corners on the trips side. The corner route can win one-on-one against outside leverage corners without safety help over the top. User linebackers or lurking defenders sitting in the shallow to intermediate zone can jump the crosser, so be ready to progress quickly to the corner route or flat. Cover 3 with a hard-flowing Sam or Will linebacker is vulnerable since the play action manipulates the underneath zone defenders out of position for the crosser.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs (1st or 2nd and medium) when the defense is loaded up to stop the run based on personnel or alignment.
Check the linebacker depth before the snap. If they are sitting tight in the box, the deep crosser will have room to work once the play fakes gets them flowing.
Hot route the flat TE to a hitch or option route against man coverage if you see press corners, since the natural flat release can get jammed at the line.
Sequence this off HB Stretch or Inside Zone earlier in the drive so the defense keys run action and bites on the PA Stretch fake, opening the crosser and corner route.
Against zone shells, prioritize the deep crosser sitting down in the void behind linebackers and in front of safeties for a big chunk gain.
