Playbooks
PA Cheat Verticals Y Slide
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Cheat Verticals Y Slide is a play-action shot play out of Bunch Str Nasty that sells the run fake before releasing four vertical stems into the secondary. Off the bunch, one receiver pushes a deep vertical stem up the numbers while the Y (tight end) works a slide route underneath, sitting down in the void behind the linebackers as the running back checks protection before leaking to the flat. The remaining bunch receiver bends a deep in-cut across the middle, giving the quarterback a layered read from the deep seam down to the Y slide sitting in the honey hole, making this a strong Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater with the primary read going high to low starting on the vertical shot before working down to the Y slide.
Defensive Reads
Key the flat defender and hole player after the snap since the Y slide is designed to sit in the soft spot of two deep zone shells. Watch for a user lurk linebacker sinking under the deep in cut, since that is the throw most likely to be jumped in Cover 3. If the corner over the bunch presses and mirrors the vertical release, expect man coverage and prioritize the crossing in route instead of the seam. Late blitz disguises from depth can collapse the pocket before the quarterback finishes the play fake, so check for extra rushers creeping toward the box pre-snap. Two high safety shells that stay deep and level are the toughest look for this concept since they take away both the vertical shot and the window over the Y slide.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion out of the bunch to bait the safety and confirm whether you are looking at man or zone before the snap.
Against Cover 3, hit the deep vertical stem on the numbers since the corner has to widen with the release, opening the seam behind him.
Against Cover 2, work the Y slide immediately since it settles right in the honey hole between the flat defender and the hole safety.
Pair this call with Corndog Toss or Inside Zone earlier in a series so the run action on this play action holds the linebackers and creates extra separation for the Y slide.
Best used on second and medium or first and ten when defenses are still respecting run fits out of shotgun bunch personnel.
