Playbooks

Orbit PA Slide

Shotgun·Normal Y Off Wk·11
Play ActionSlideMotionPass Play
Play diagram for Orbit PA Slide from Shotgun Normal Y Off Wk in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 4 playbooks

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Breakdown

Orbit PA Slide runs out of Shotgun Normal Y Off Wk with 11 personnel and uses orbit motion from the backfield before the play-action fake to hold the linebackers. Post-snap the play sends two vertical routes up the seams from the outside receivers while the running back releases underneath on a slide route to the flat, giving the quarterback a high-low read against zone drops. The lone in-line blocker stays in to protect on the play fake side, and the red route breaks flat across the middle as a shallow crossing option underneath the verticals. This is a play-action zone beater that attacks linebackers who bite on the run fake, with the primary read starting on the slide route in the flat before working up to the deep seam routes if the underneath defenders sink into coverage.

Defensive Reads

Check safety depth pre-snap, if both safeties are shallow expecting run support this play-action concept will hit the seams before they can recover. Watch the linebackers at the snap, if they step up hard on the fake the slide route to the flat and the seam routes both come open immediately. Beware Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with disciplined deep safeties who stay home, since they can rob the seam routes and force you to check down early. User lurk defenders sitting in the shallow crossing zone can jump the underdrag route, so have a progression ready to climb to the vertical seam if the crosser is taken away. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge can beat the single blocker in protection, so account for a hot read or quick throw to the flat route against pressure looks.

Usage Tips

Use the orbit motion pre-snap to identify if the defense shifts a linebacker or defensive back to follow the motion man, which reveals man coverage immediately.

Sell the play-action fake by holding the run animation as long as possible, this freezes second level defenders and opens the seam windows against Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells.

Hot route the shallow crosser into a deeper dig if you see the defense sitting in soft zone underneath, since the natural crossing route can get clogged against zone drops.

This play pairs well with Inside Zone and Fk Leak Outside Zone earlier in a series, since the run action tendencies set up the play-action fake convincingly.

Call this on early downs, second and short or third and medium, when the defense is more likely to respect the run fake and bite on linebacker flow.

Other Plays in Normal Y Off Wk