Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 11 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn PA Slide is a play-action shot play out of Shotgun Deuce Close with 12 personnel. The offensive line executes a slide protection to sell the run fake while the backside receiver runs a deep post/vertical route (yellow) that stems up the seam before breaking to the corner of the endzone. The Y receiver climbs a vertical seam that bends outward (red) as a curl/flat window beater, and the underneath crosser (blue) works a quick in-cut over the middle while the flat route (cyan) clears out to the sideline as the checkdown. Primary read progression starts with the deep shot route off the play fake, then works down to the seam breaker, and finally to the underneath crosser or flat as the outlet against pressure.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and alignment since a single high safety indicates man or Cover 3 which opens up the deep corner shot route. Look at linebacker depth at the snap, if they bite hard on the run fake it opens throwing lanes for both the seam route and the underneath crosser. Post-snap, identify any user-controlled defender flowing toward the line of scrimmage to sell run support since that leaves the deep shot route and seam route wide open behind them. Watch for a sinking flat defender or cornerback playing zone drop depth, as this can undercut the flat route and force you to the seam or crosser instead. This play struggles against Cover 4 or Cover 2 shells with disciplined safeties who stay deep and do not bite on the run fake, since the deep shot route gets taken away and the underneath options become the only viable reads. Heavy blitz packages with quick pressure off the edge can disrupt the play-action timing, so check protection or use a quick hot route to the flat if you see extra rushers stacked at the line.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs (1st and 10 or 2nd and short) when you have already established the run game out of this Deuce Close set to sell the play-action fake and freeze linebackers. Check pre-snap for single high safety looks since the deep shot route to the corner is a lethal man beater against Cover 1 or Cover 3 with a slower deep defender. If the defense shows two high safeties, prioritize the underneath crosser and flat route combo since the deep shot may be capped. Hot route the flat route into a wheel or sit route against zone heavy defenses to create a natural leverage conflict for the flat defender. Pair this play in your call sheet with Inside Zone or Outside Zone from the same set to keep linebackers honest on run fits before dialing up this shot play. Use Mtn Stick or RPO Read Mtn Stick earlier in a series so the defense respects the quick game before you hit them with the play-action double move up top.
