Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA FB Flat out of Strong I Wing shows a play-action fake that holds the linebackers before releasing three routes into the pattern. The X receiver runs a deep comeback breaking back toward the sideline, the TE runs an in route crossing the middle from the strong side, and the FB releases into the flat off the fake as the underneath checkdown. This is a play-action play built to attack zone drops that bite on the run fake, with the FB flat as the primary read against man coverage and the comeback as the eventual go-to route versus zone once safeties commit downhill.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check strong safety depth, if he is sitting shallow near the box he is likely keying run and will bite on the fake, opening the FB flat and TE in. Watch for Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells with the corner playing off the X receiver, this invites the comeback route as the primary answer late in the down. Identify user-controlled linebackers spying the FB, if you see one sitting in the flat pre-snap he is sitting on this concept and the TE in becomes the counter. Post-snap, track the flat defender's first step, if he crashes down on the run fake before recovering, the FB is wide open for an easy completion. Blitz packages that send extra rushers off the edge can beat this play if the FB is asked to release instead of block, so check the protection assignment before calling it into pressure-heavy fronts.
Usage Tips
Sell the play fake by holding the snap button through the FB mesh point so linebackers step up before you turn to throw.
Use this on early downs like 1st and 10 or 2nd and short when defenses expect Mtn Power O or Power O Alert X Smoke out of the same Strong I Wing look.
Read the flat defender first, if he sits on the FB flat, come off it immediately to the TE in route working across the middle.
Against man coverage, the comeback from the X receiver is a built in win against corners playing outside leverage, throw it as he snaps back to the sideline.
Pair this with PA Power O and PA Mtn Power in the same drive to keep the defense honest on run fits before hitting them with this play-action shot.
