Playbooks

Mtn PA Slide

Pistol·Wing Slot·12

Quick Reference

FormationPistol

In 4 playbooks

Cardinals OffenseOffensePackers OffenseOffenseNFL Live Cardinals OffenseOffenseNFL Live Packers OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Mtn PA Slide is a play-action slide protection concept out of Pistol Wing Slot with 12 personnel that sells the mountain run fake before flooding one side of the field with a slide route combo. The offensive line executes a slide protection scheme to sell the run action while the QB rolls his eyes through a high low read on the frontside, typically working a deep out or corner route against a shallow crosser or slide route underneath. This play is designed as a play-action man beater that also holds up against zone thanks to the natural high low stretch created by the route levels, with the primary read progression going from the outside vertical breaking route down to the underneath slide or drag as the checkdown.

Defensive Reads

Read the linebacker depth immediately after the snap, if they step up hard on the run fake the underneath slide route will be wide open for an easy completion. Identify single high safety shells like Cover 3 or Cover 1 pre-snap, since the deep out or corner route can win against the flat defender once he commits to the run fake. Watch for a user controlled defender sitting in the intermediate zone or lurking near the slide route, this is the most common way aggressive human defenders shut this play down. Against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells, prioritize the underneath slide route over the deeper breaking route since the safeties will stay deep and take away the corner window. Look for blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge, since slide protection can be vulnerable to overload blitzes and the quarterback may need to get the ball out on rhythm to the first read.

Usage Tips

Use this on early downs like first and second and short to medium yardage situations where defenses are more willing to bite on the run fake from Pistol formation.

Check safety depth before the snap, if you see one high safety rotate to middle of field closed you can trust the play action to hold linebackers longer and attack the intermediate window.

Hot route the backside tight end into a quick out or drag if you see man coverage with no safety help over the top, this gives you an instant answer against blitz looks.

Pair this with HB Slam or HB Dive earlier in a drive to condition the defense to respect the run threat from this formation, which sets up the play fake even harder later in the game.

Combine with Mtn PA Verts in your play calling sequence, since both plays share the same run fake but attack different levels, forcing linebackers to hesitate on every snap from this look.

Other Plays in Wing Slot