Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Orbit PA Slide is a play-action pass out of Shotgun 11 personnel that uses an HB orbit motion into the backfield to sell run action before he slides out flat to the boundary as a checkdown. Both outside receivers push vertical up the numbers on go routes to stress the deep thirds, while the slot runs a shallow drag underneath across the formation as an in-breaking man beater. The primary read progression starts with the two vertical shots for a big play against man coverage or a blown deep assignment, then works down to the underneath drag against zone drops, with the orbiting HB slide as the built-in checkdown versus a hard pass rush.
Defensive Reads
Read the safety alignment before the snap: a single high safety means the verticals have single coverage and are live, two deep safeties means the verticals are likely capped. Watch the linebacker depth and reaction to the orbit motion, since aggressive linebackers biting on the play-action open up the underneath drag route immediately. Key the flat defender or curl-flat zone defender for the HB slide route, since a squatting corner or linebacker in that zone can jump the checkdown for a big hit or pick. Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets exposed by the double vertical concept, especially if the corners are playing off man with no deep help. Cover 3 with a hard sky corner rolling down can undercut the drag route, so check if the flat defender is sinking into the throwing lane before targeting the underneath crosser.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion with the HB to bait linebackers into flowing toward the orbit action, which opens up the play-action fake and slows down edge rushers.
Attack single high safety shells (Cover 3 or Cover 1) with the two verticals since they isolate corners on islands with no deep help over the top.
If you see two deep safeties (Cover 2 or Cover 4), work the drag route underneath immediately since the verticals will be capped.
Hot route the drag runner into a deeper crosser if the defense shows a blitz look, since it gives him more time to work away from underneath defenders.
Pair this with Double Slants or WR Under earlier in a drive to condition the defense to expect quick game, then hit this shot play off similar formation and motion for an explosive gain.
