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Breakdown
PA TE Slip out of the Pistol Wing 12 personnel package sells the run fake before releasing three vertical stems into the pattern. The outside receiver clears deep down the sideline, the slot runs a deep dig back across the middle, and the wing TE releases outside then works back across the field on a shallow crosser, while the frontside TE runs a slip route underneath into the flat. This is a play-action shot play designed to attack zone defenders who bite on the run fake, with the primary read starting on the deep dig working back to the underneath slip route in the flat if the linebackers sink and take away the crosser.
Defensive Reads
Key the linebackers immediately after the snap: if they step up to defend the run fake, the deep dig and shallow crosser will have wide passing lanes behind them. Watch the deep safety alignment pre-snap, a single high safety cheating toward the boundary opens up the backside go route for a shot play. Man coverage defenders who bite on the run fake will get beat over the top or on the crossing routes, making this a strong man beater when the defense sells out on stopping the ground game. Zone defenses that stay disciplined and drop linebackers into their landmarks without flowing to the fake will squeeze the crosser and slip route, forcing the quarterback to hold the ball longer. Watch for a user linebacker spying the underneath slip route or lurking in the shallow zone, since a disciplined user defender can jump the crossing route and undercut the primary progression.
Usage Tips
Sell the play fake by holding the ball on the fake handoff animation as long as possible before resetting your feet to throw. Use this on early downs (1st or 2nd and medium) when the defense is showing run support looks or has been susceptible to play-action shots earlier in the drive. Read the deep safety before the snap: if he creeps down into the box, the deep dig and go route behind him become high percentage throws. Pair this play with HB Slam or Strong Power earlier in a drive so the defense respects the run fake and linebackers start flowing downhill on the play fake. If the defense shows Cover 3 or Cover 4 with LBs biting on run action, hot route the slip route to a flat or option route as your checkdown against a scraping linebacker.
