Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
PA F Slide is a play-action pass out of Shotgun Split Offset (20 personnel) that sells a run fake before releasing five eligible receivers into a full route tree. Off the play fake, the fullback slides across the formation into the shallow flat while the backside receiver runs a deep in-breaking crosser (the red route) that stretches horizontally behind the linebackers. The three vertical stems (two outside receivers going deep and a wheel/corner breaking route from the slot) attack all three levels, making this a zone beater designed to stress deep zone defenders while the shallow crossers punish underneath robber or man coverage. Primary read progression starts with the deep crosser working across the field, then works down to the F back sliding into the flat as the checkdown/hot route against blitz pressure.
Defensive Reads
Watch for two deep safeties splitting the field evenly pre-snap, which signals Cover 2 or Cover 4 and tells you the deep crosser will have a soft spot to sit in the middle of the field. If linebackers bite hard on the run fake and drop their eyes to the backfield, the deep crossing route will be wide open behind them since they are the primary defenders responsible for that window. Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets exposed by the vertical routes on the outside, so check corner alignment and press technique before the snap. User-controlled defenders lurking in the shallow zone can jump the F back's slide route into the flat, so have your quarterback ready to reset to the deep crosser if that lurk defender sits too low. Disguised zone blitzes that send extra rushers off the edge will collapse the pocket quickly, making the F back's flat release the fastest answer since he is not asked to block on this concept.
Usage Tips
Use this play on second or third and medium when defenses are still respecting the run fake, since the play action freezes linebackers and opens the shallow crosser.
Check safety depth pre-snap: if you see two deep safeties sitting at 10-12 yards, the deep crossing route will have room to work underneath them before the safeties can rally over.
If the defense shows man coverage with press corners, hot route the outside vertical routes into slants or quick outs to beat the leverage before the play fake even develops.
Use the F back sliding into the flat as your blitz-beater checkdown against nano blitzes or aggressive edge pressure, since he releases late and underneath the rush.
Pair this play with Mtn PA Flood or PA Skinny Post in the same set to keep the defense guessing between horizontal and vertical stress concepts off similar play action shells.
