Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA End Around out of Strong I Close (21 personnel) shows a run fake to the end around action while the passing concept develops off the play fake. Two receivers stretch the field vertically on the left with a deep post/corner combo, while the third receiver from the right side runs a deep corner route that breaks outside near the numbers, and the flanker on the far right runs a comeback/out route to the boundary. The offensive line pass protects after selling the run action, giving the quarterback time to work a three level read from deep outside in to the underneath comeback. Primary read progression starts with the deep corner route on the right, works to the vertical route on the left seam, then comes down to the comeback route as the checkdown against man coverage that jumps the play fake.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth at the snap. If they crash hard on run action and flow toward the end around fake, the middle of the field opens for the vertical seam route. Key the corner over the deep comeback route. If he sits at a soft cushion and does not bite on the fake, the quick comeback is there as a built in checkdown. Identify single high versus two high safety shells pre-snap. Cover 3 with one deep safety struggles to cover both the corner route and the vertical seam, forcing a hole in the deep middle. This play is neutralized by disciplined zone defenses that keep linebackers in run/pass conflict but do not overpursue, since it removes the window for the corner route. User controlled defenders sitting in the deep half or playing lurk near the sideline can jump the comeback route, so peek at where the user is aligned before committing to the checkdown throw.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs when the defense has shown run blitz tendencies out of Strong I looks, since the play fake holds linebackers and safeties in the box longer.
Check safety depth pre-snap. If both safeties are shallow (under 8 yards) or crashing down for run support, throw the deep corner route on the outside immediately off the fake.
Against man coverage with no safety help over the top, take the double move corner route since defenders biting on the run fake get beaten deep.
Hot route the backside vertical route into a deep in-cut or post if you see a single high safety rotating to that side, giving you a natural man beater against Cover 3 rotation.
Pair this call with HB Dive and FB Dive from the same personnel and formation earlier in a series so linebackers key run fast, then punish that aggression with this play action shot.
