Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA FB Fake out of Strong I Pro 21 personnel opens with a play-action fake to the fullback to hold the linebackers before releasing four routes into the pattern. The X receiver runs a deep corner route from the backside, the TE runs a deep crosser from the strong side that stems across the formation, the Y off the line runs a flat route underneath, and the HB releases on a vertical seam route up the middle as the fourth read. This is a play-action shot play designed to punish teams that bite on the run fake, with the deep corner and crossing routes stressing zone coverage while the seam and flat give you answers against man. Primary read progression starts with the vertical seam route from the HB, then works to the deep crosser, and comes back down to the flat route if the top of the defense holds.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth before the snap, if they are stacked tight to the line expecting run they will bite on the fullback fake and open the seam and crosser routes. Man coverage on the TE is vulnerable to the deep crosser since it creates natural rub traffic with the seam route, look for a linebacker or safety trailing in man to identify this. Zone coverage with a single high safety struggles to cover both the deep corner and the crossing route at the same depth, force the safety to choose and throw off his help. User controlled defenders sitting in a lurk spot in the middle of the field can jump the HB seam route, if you see a defender hanging near the hash marks delay that throw and work the flat or corner instead. Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with disciplined corners rolling deep can take away the corner route, in that case rely on the crosser and flat combination to move the chains underneath.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs like first or second and short to mid yardage where the defense expects run out of Strong I, since the fullback fake sells hardest when linebackers are keying the box.
Check the safety alignment before the snap, if you see two high safeties the deep corner route from the X has room to work against a soft zone shell.
If the defense shows single high or a run blitz look, get ready to hit the HB seam route quickly since linebackers flowing to stop the fake fullback dive will vacate the middle.
Use the flat route as your checkdown against blitz pressure, it is the fastest developing route and bails you out when the pass rush closes the pocket before the deep routes break.
Pair this play with FB Dive and HB Dive earlier in a series so the defense commits to stopping the fullback and linebacker run fits, then hit PA FB Fake to expose overaggressive run defense with the deep crosser and corner combo.
