Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
PA Lead Draw Shot sells the play-action fake before releasing two deep shot routes off a crossing concept, with a post from the outside receiver at the top of the screen and a corner route breaking the opposite way underneath it, while the inline TE or FB runs a vertical seam up the numbers on the left. The blocking picture shows the offensive line and lead blocker staying home to protect while the shot routes clear out over the top, making this a pure play-action shot play designed to hit a big chunk gain against an overaggressive run fit. The primary read progression starts with the crossing route created by the double post/corner combo at the top of the screen, then works down to the vertical route on the left if the safety jumps the cross.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is stacking the box with linebackers creeping to the line, which signals they are selling out on the run fake and opening up the shot routes behind them. Watch safety alignment closely, a single high safety who bites on the play-action fake will get exposed by the crossing routes at the top of the screen. Post-snap, key any user-controlled defender dropping into a lurk position near the crossing routes, since that defender can jump the throw if the quarterback holds the ball too long. This play struggles against disciplined zone shells like Cover 2 or Cover 4 where safeties stay deep and read the quarterback's eyes instead of biting on the run action. Man coverage with press corners and no safety help over the top is the biggest liability for the defense, since the natural crossing action creates a pick-style separation that man defenders cannot recover from.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs like 1st and 10 or 2nd and short when the defense is keying run tendencies from your Strong I personnel, since the play-action fake plays off HB Dive, HB Power O, and HB Lead Draw looks you have already established in the set. Check the safety depth pre-snap, if you see two safeties creeping down into the box or a single high safety cheating toward the strong side, that is your green light to fire the shot concept. Use the crossing routes to attack man coverage since the natural rub at the top of the screen creates immediate separation against man defenders trying to stay in phase. If the defense shows Cover 3 or Cover 4 with deep safety help over the top, be ready to check down to the vertical route on the left rather than forcing the deep cross into a lurking safety. Sequence this shot play after running HB Toss, Inside Zone Wk, or Counter Weak a few times to bait linebackers into crashing downhill before you pull the trigger on the play-action.
