Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Slide is a play-action shot play out of Shotgun 11 personnel that hides a deep shot behind run-fake mechanics. Off the play fake, the backside receiver runs a vertical seam up the numbers while the frontside receiver on the boundary runs a deep dig that cuts across the middle, and the two remaining routes work as an under drag and a flat/slide route to the play-action side for a checkdown. This is a man beater at heart, designed to isolate the vertical seam and dig against man leverage while the drag and slide give you built-in answers versus zone drops, with the primary read progressing from the deep dig to the seam and finally down to the slide or drag underneath.
Defensive Reads
Key the linebacker depth immediately after the snap, if they step up hard on the run fake the underneath drag and slide will be wide open in the vacated zone. Watch for a user controlled safety sitting in the middle of the field, this is the biggest threat to the deep dig route and can jump the throw if the quarterback stares it down. Identify press man corners pre-snap on the seam route, aggressive press coverage there can disrupt the timing of the vertical route and force a check down to the flat. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender can squeeze the slide route, so look for that flat defender's depth to decide between the slide and the drag as your outlet. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge will test protection quickly since play action holds blockers longer, so recognize overload blitzes pre-snap and get the ball out on the drag or slide as a hot answer.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs (1st or 2nd and medium) so the play fake actually holds the linebackers and freezes run support defenders.
Check the safety alignment before the snap: if both safeties are deep (two high) the dig behind the linebackers is your best window, if you see single high or a robber creeping down attack the seam vertically before the free safety can rob it.
Use this play after establishing inside zone or HB base from the same set so the play action fake actually manipulates the second level defenders instead of getting sniffed out.
If the corner presses the seam receiver, hot route him to a quick slant or throw a fade adjustment, and if you see man coverage across the board trust the dig to win at the intermediate level.
Pair this with RPO Zone Peek or RPO Alert Bubble earlier in a series so the defense respects the quick game and bites harder on the play fake here, opening up the explosive shot.
