Football is a game of lies. Every single snap involves a degree of deception, but nothing quite matches the sheer psychological warfare of the play action pass. It's the ultimate "gotcha" moment. You see the quarterback turn, the running back plunge into the line, and the linebackers screaming downhill to fill the gaps. By the time they realize there is no ball in that stomach, the tight end is already ten yards behind them.
Honestly, it’s beautiful.
But it’s also remarkably difficult to master. A lot of people think play action is just about "faking it." It isn't. If the footwork is off by six inches or the quarterback’s eyes give it away too early, the whole thing falls apart. The play action pass depends entirely on the defense's Pavlovian response to the run. If you can’t run the ball, the fake doesn't matter. You’ve probably seen your favorite team try to sell a fake handoff on 3rd and 12 when they haven't gained a yard on the ground all game. It looks pathetic because it is. Nobody is biting on that.
Why the Play Action Pass Works (When It Actually Does)
The magic happens in the "conflict of assignment." In a standard 4-3 or 3-4 defense, linebackers have specific gaps to fill. When they see a "high hat" read from the offensive linemen—meaning the big guys are standing up to pass protect—they drop back. But on a play action pass, the offensive line usually employs "run blocking" looks. They fire off the ball. They get low. They look like they’re trying to move a mountain.
This forces the linebacker to make a choice in roughly 0.4 seconds.
If he hesitates, the running back gains five yards. If he commits to the tackle, he leaves a massive void in the middle of the field. This is the "honey hole" that quarterbacks like Matthew Stafford or Jared Goff thrive on. These guys aren't necessarily the fastest runners, but their ball-handling skills are elite. They hide the ball against their hip, keep their shoulders square to the line of scrimmage, and only flip their hips to throw at the last possible microsecond.
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Think about the Shanahan coaching tree. Whether it’s Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco or Sean McVay with the Rams, their entire offensive identity is built on making every play look exactly the same for the first two seconds. The "outside zone" run and the play action pass start with the same footwork. It’s a nightmare for a safety. You’re taught to read the "keys," but when the keys are lying to your face, you’re cooked.
The Subtle Art of the Mesh Point
The "mesh" is where the fake handoff either lives or dies. This is the physical space where the quarterback and the running back meet. In a real handoff, the quarterback places the ball into the "breadbasket" of the back. In a play action pass, he has to mimic that exact depth.
If the QB pulls the ball too early, the linebacker stays home.
If he leaves it in too long, he gets sacked because he didn't get his eyes downfield.
It’s a rhythm thing. Peyton Manning was arguably the greatest to ever do this. He would emphasize the "empty hand" follow-through, making it look like he was still pushing the runner forward even after he had the ball tucked behind his leg. It’s theater. High-level, multi-million dollar theater.
There’s also the "bootleg" variation. This is where the quarterback fakes the handoff and then sprints out in the opposite direction. It’s a staple of the wide zone offense. By moving the pocket, you’re not just lying about who has the ball; you’re lying about where the launch point is. Defensive ends hate this. They spend all game trying to rush the passer, only to find out the passer is twenty yards away by the time they get to the spot.
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Statistics Don't Lie About the Fake
You’ll often hear commentators say you need to "establish the run" for play action to work. Interestingly, some modern analytics—like those from Football Outsiders or PFF—have challenged this. There’s evidence suggesting that the play action pass is effective even if the run game is struggling, simply because defenders are programmed by years of coaching to react to the backfield flow.
However, the threat of the run must exist. If you’re down by three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, the play action loses its teeth. The defense knows you’re throwing. The lie doesn't work if the audience already knows the ending of the movie.
Common Mistakes That Kill the Deception
It’s painful to watch a poorly executed play action pass. Usually, it starts with the quarterback’s eyes. A young QB will often peek downfield to see if his receiver is open while he’s supposed to be faking the handoff. As soon as a veteran safety sees the QB’s head turn, he knows the run is a sham.
- Lazy footwork: The QB doesn't get deep enough into the backfield.
- The "Dead Hand": The running back doesn't close his arms around the "ball," making it obvious he's empty-handed.
- Poor line splits: If the offensive line isn't aggressive, the defense knows it’s a pass.
Then there is the "RPO" or Run-Pass Option. People confuse this with play action all the time. They aren't the same thing. In a play action pass, the quarterback knows he is throwing from the start. It’s a called pass play with a fake attached. In an RPO, the quarterback is making a real-time decision based on a specific defender's movement. If the linebacker stays back, he hands it off. If the linebacker crashes, he pulls it and throws a quick slant. It’s faster, more chaotic, and frankly, a different beast entirely.
Famous Examples of the Fake Done Right
The 1990s Denver Broncos with Terrell Davis and John Elway were the gold standard. Because Davis was such a terrifying runner, defenses had to sell out to stop him. Elway would fake the "stretch" play, bootleg out, and have half the field to himself.
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More recently, look at the way the Baltimore Ravens use Lamar Jackson. Because Jackson is the most dangerous runner on the field, his play action pass fakes are devastating. When he puts the ball in the gut of a running back, the entire defense collapses toward the middle. Then he pulls it out, and suddenly he has a wide-open Mark Andrews over the middle. It’s almost unfair.
The play action isn't just a "trick play." It’s a foundational element of winning football at every level, from Friday night lights to the Super Bowl. It’s about leveraging the defender's own discipline against them.
Mastering the Deception: Next Steps for Coaches and Players
If you’re looking to actually implement or improve this maneuver, you have to stop thinking about it as a secondary part of the playbook. It needs to be drilled with the same intensity as the pass protection itself.
- Film the Mesh Point: Set up a camera directly behind the quarterback. If you can tell it’s a fake within the first second, so can the defense. The ball should be invisible to the secondary until the QB is ready to cock his arm.
- Match the "Pathing": Ensure the running back’s path on the fake is identical to his path on the team's most successful run play. If he’s faking a dive but running it like a sweep, the linebackers won't move.
- Vary the Launch Point: Don't just drop back five steps every time. Use the "naked boot" to get the QB outside the pocket. This forces the defensive ends to play tentatively, which slows down the pass rush overall.
- Practice the "Sell" Without the Ball: Running backs often stop playing once they realize they don't have the ball. They need to dive into the pile, scream, and act like they’re fighting for yards. That extra two seconds of "acting" is what keeps the safeties from crashing the pass.
The most effective offenses are the ones that make the defense guess wrong the most often. By refining the play action pass, you aren't just adding a play; you're adding a layer of hesitation to every single defender on the field. In a game of inches, that hesitation is everything. Overinvesting in the "theatrical" side of the quarterback-running back exchange usually pays dividends in the fourth quarter when those tired linebackers start taking shortcuts. Don't let them. Make them pay for every step they take toward the line of scrimmage.