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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
PA FB Flat out of Strong I Wing Close is a play-action shot play that shows run action first before working two vertical breaking routes on the backside and a flat route to the fullback as the safety valve. Both outside receivers stem vertically then break outward into corner/go routes on the top of the screen, stacking the boundary for a deep man beater look, while the flat back releases underneath into the open space left by the play fake. The primary read progression starts with the deep corner route breaking outside off the top stem, works down to the second vertical breaking route on the same side, and checks down to the FB flat route as the built-in answer versus pressure or if both verticals are blanketed.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth at the snap. If they crash hard on the run fake, the FB flat route will be wide open in the vacated underneath area. Identify single-high shells pre-snap such as Cover 1 or Cover 3, since the two outside breaking routes create natural picks and separation against man coverage defenders trailing from an inside alignment. Beware of Cover 2 or Cover 4 zone shells with safeties sitting deep, as the corner breaking routes can get squeezed by cornerbacks sinking into their zone drops. Key on user-controlled defenders spying the flat or lurking underneath, since a smart user will jump the FB route immediately after diagnosing play action. Look for blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge, since the quick flat route becomes the immediate answer against pressure when the offensive line cannot hold up on max protect.
Usage Tips
Sell the run fake by holding the play fake animation out fully before dropping to pass, since Strong I run tendencies make linebackers bite hard on this action.
Check the safety alignment pre-snap. If you see two-high shells rotate down to one-high after the snap, that confirms man coverage underneath and you should trust the outside breaking routes.
Use this on early downs like first or second and short to medium yardage where defenses expect Mtn Power O or Inside Zone Split out of this same set, keeping the defense honest against run-heavy personnel.
Hot route the FB flat to a quick out or seam if you diagnose Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with underneath zone defenders sitting on the flat.
Pair this with Mtn Double Slant or Spacing HB Wheel in the same play call sequence to attack both levels of the field and keep linebackers guessing between run and pass.
