Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Pound Draw Pass sells the Pound run action out of Strong I before releasing four routes into a play-action passing concept. The X receiver runs a deep comeback while the TE runs a crossing route underneath from the backside, and on the strong side the Y runs an out toward the sideline with the F releasing to the flat off the fake, while the FB inserts as a blocker on a delayed release with a slight settle in front of the box. The primary read starts with the deep comeback to the play side, works down to the crossing route underneath, and finishes with the flat route as the checkdown against pressure.
Defensive Reads
Key the strong side flat defender immediately after the snap since he has to respect the run fake before reacting to the flat route, giving you a window if he steps up. Watch for a robber or lurk defender sitting in the middle of the field since he can jump the crossing route if the QB stares it down too long. Identify two high safeties before the snap since split safety shells can squeeze the deep comeback route and make the crossing route the better target. Look for linebackers biting hard on the pound run fake since that opens up the intermediate crossing route working against light coverage underneath. Beware of a disguised blitz off the edge on the strong side since it can beat the FB's delayed protection assignment before the deep routes develop.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs or in run-heavy personnel counts to keep the play-action fake believable and freeze linebackers.
Check the safety alignment pre-snap. If you see a single high safety cheating toward the strong side, the backside comeback route from the X will have room to work against a hard corner.
Use the crossing route as your man beater versus man coverage looks since it creates natural separation against trail technique.
Pair this call with FB Dive or HB Dive earlier in a drive so the defense respects the run fake and bites harder on the pound action.
If the defense shows heavy blitz pre-snap, hot route the flat route to a quick out or slide the FB protection to buy the QB extra time since the deep comeback takes longer to develop.
