Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Deep out of Strong I Close (21 personnel) opens with a play-action fake to sell the run, holding the linebackers and safeties for a beat before the routes develop. The backside receiver runs a deep corner route up the sideline as the clear-out, while the TE or slot runs a deep crossing route underneath from the opposite side, and the two backfield options (FB and HB) release into a flat route and a short in-cut respectively to give the QB a checkdown against blitzes. This is a play-action shot play built to beat man coverage on the deep corner and single-high safety shells, with the primary read starting on the deep corner route, working down to the deep crosser, and finishing with the underneath flat as the emergency valve.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single-high versus two-high safety shells since single-high leaves the deep corner route in a favorable one-on-one matchup against man coverage. Watch linebacker depth at the snap: if they bite hard on the play-action fake, the deep crosser will have a wide-open throwing lane behind them. Post-snap, key the flat defender and underneath zone defender to see if they widen with the FB or HB flat route, which opens a passing window for the deep crosser sitting down in the middle. This play struggles against a Cover 2 or Cover 4 shell with disciplined deep safeties who stay home and do not bite on the run fake. User-controlled defenders sitting in a deep half or playing a lurk technique near the crosser can jump the route, so if you see a defender shading that landmark before the snap, be ready to reset to the flat or in-cut checkdown.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs (1st and 10 or 2nd and short) when you have already established the run game out of Strong I to keep the front seven honest on the play-action fake.
Check the safety alignment pre-snap: if you see two deep safeties bracket the field, look to the deep crosser instead of forcing the corner route into a deep half.
If the corner blows up the flat or jumps the short in route, hot route your FB or HB flat route to a delayed release to give your QB more time in the pocket.
Pair this with HB Dive and FB Dive from the same set earlier in the drive so the PA fake actually holds linebackers and freezes the second level.
Against aggressive man coverage on the outside, take the deep corner shot immediately off the play-action fake since the receiver has a natural leverage advantage on that route.
