Playbooks

PA Slide

Shotgun·Deuce Close·12
Play ActionSlidePass Play
Play diagram for PA Slide from Shotgun Deuce Close in Madden 27

Quick Reference

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Breakdown

PA Slide out of Shotgun Deuce Close is a play-action shot play built off a run fake to hold the linebackers and safeties. The play design shows a deep corner/go route stemming vertically then breaking to the corner from the inline TE, a deep crossing dig from the second TE that clears underneath zones, and a shallow slide/flat route along the line of scrimmage from the backside X. The primary read starts with the corner route to the sideline, works down to the crossing dig sitting behind the linebackers, and checks down to the flat slide route if both are covered.

Defensive Reads

Pre snap, identify single high versus two high safety alignment, single high tells you the corner route is live and two high tells you to prioritize the dig. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they crash hard on the run fake the crossing dig will have a wide throwing lane behind them. Key the flat defender or curl to flat zone player, if they widen with the slide route it opens a bigger throwing window for the dig behind them. User controlled defenders sitting in the deep third or lurking underneath routes are the biggest threat, spy the safety over the top before committing to the corner route. Man coverage with no help over the top gets exposed by the corner route stem and break, while zone coverage with disciplined linebackers who do not bite on the fake can suffocate both intermediate routes and force the checkdown.

Usage Tips

Sell the run fake by holding the ball momentarily before rolling into your drop, this freezes linebackers and second level defenders long enough for the dig to open.

Look for single high safety shells pre snap since the corner route thrives against Cover 3 or Cover 1 when the corner is forced to run vertically.

If you see two deep safeties, work the crossing dig immediately since it settles into the void created by the play action, especially against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells that funnel to the sideline.

Use the flat slide route as your answer versus aggressive man pressure or blitz looks, it is an instant hot route conversion outlet when you cannot hold the ball long enough for deeper routes to develop.

Pair this shot play with Mtn PA Slide or PA Deep Cross earlier in a drive so the defense respects the same run action fake, then hit PA Slide when they start jumping the underneath routes.

Other Plays in Deuce Close