Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
PA Power O out of Strong I Slot sells the Power O run action to the strong side before working a four man route concept off the fake. The backside X runs a vertical seam up the numbers, the TE releases outside then breaks upfield on a corner route from the flat, the slot runs a short flat/out at a shallow depth, and the flanker on the far side runs a deep crossing route into the opposite flat. This is a play-action pass built to attack man coverage with the corner route and seam creating natural picks and separation, with the crosser as a zone beater underneath if the corner and seam are covered. Primary read progression starts with the TE corner route as he clears the flat defender, then works to the backside seam, and comes down to the crosser and flat route as checkdown options.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check strong safety depth and box count since a stacked box with the safety creeping down is a green light for the offense to take the play-action shot over the top. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they step up hard on the run fake they will be late getting back to the crosser and flat route, giving the offense an easy underneath completion. User the flat defender or slot corner to jump the TE corner route early since that is the primary read and the route most likely to be targeted first. Spy or lurk the middle of the field against the crosser if playing zone coverage, since that route sits right behind the linebackers and punishes teams that vacate the middle on the run fake. Against man coverage, get a jam on the backside seam receiver to disrupt his release, since a clean release on that vertical route is a scheme fit conversion machine versus Cover 1 and Cover 0.
Usage Tips
Run this from run-heavy personnel and down-and-distance situations like second or third and short so the play fake actually holds linebackers and safeties.
Look for single high safety shells pre-snap since the corner route and seam attack Cover 3 and Cover 1 hard when the underneath defenders bite on the run fake.
If you see two deep safeties, be ready to hot route the corner route into a quicker out or work the crosser sooner since Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells will have help over the top.
Pair this play in sequence with HB Power O and Counter Weak from the same set so the defense has to respect the run action every time they see this personnel and formation.
Use play action rollouts like PA Boot Slide as a change-up after running PA Power O a few times so linebackers cannot sit on the play-action pass keys.
