Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Slide out of Shotgun Bunch TE uses play-action to hold the linebackers before releasing three receivers into a stretched vertical concept. From the bunch alignment, two receivers push vertical up the seam and sideline while the third works a shallow slide route underneath, and the running back adds a short flare into the flat to hold the underneath defenders. This is a play-action shot play designed to attack zone coverage that bites on the run fake, with the primary read starting on the deep outside vertical before working down to the slide and flat routes underneath.
Defensive Reads
Check safety depth pre-snap because a two-high shell forces you to rely on the underneath slide and flat routes rather than the vertical shots. Watch linebacker depth and flow, if they crash hard on the run fake it opens a passing lane for the slide route and flat route. Beware Cover 3 with a sky safety rotating over the top, this can take away the outside vertical and force a check down. Identify user-controlled defenders lurking in the shallow zone, since they can jump the slide route if the quarterback stares it down too long. This play struggles against disciplined zone drops that stay home on play-action, so avoid calling it against defenses that have shown patience against run fakes on earlier snaps.
Usage Tips
Sell the run fake by holding the play-action animation and reading the linebacker flow before looking downfield.
Use this on early downs like first or second and short to medium yardage so defenses respect the run action and bite on the fake.
If you see single-high safety coverage pre-snap, prioritize the deep outside vertical since the cornerback will likely be isolated without help over the top.
Pair this with Bunch Levels or Indy Bunch in the same set so the defense has to respect both quick underneath breaks and the vertical shot from identical formations.
Hot route the slide route to a deeper crossing route if you anticipate heavy underneath zone coverage sitting on the shallow routes.
