Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn PA Slide is a play-action pass out of Shotgun Split Wing Nasty (22 personnel) that shows run action to sell the linebackers before releasing three receivers into a stretched vertical concept. The backside receiver runs a deep vertical route up the seam as the clear-out, the slot man works a corner route breaking outside, and the fullback releases on a shallow drag to the flat while the motion man runs a shorter drag underneath from the opposite side. The primary read progression starts with the deep seam shot off the play-action fake, works down to the corner route sitting behind underneath defenders, and checks down to the crossing drag routes as the safety valve against zone drops.
Defensive Reads
Key the flow of the linebackers immediately after the snap: if they bite hard on the run fake, the corner route and deep seam route will have wide throwing lanes. Watch the cornerback over the vertical route; if he presses without safety help behind him, this play is a quick man beater for the deep shot. Identify any user-controlled defender lurking in the shallow zone, since he can jump the crossing drag routes and bait a turnover if the quarterback checks down too early. Cover 3 and Cover 1 with aggressive linebacker blitzes are the easiest shells to exploit since the play-action freezes the second level and opens the seam and corner routes. Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with disciplined safeties can shut this down by sitting on the corner route and forcing the offense into the underneath drag checkdowns, so be ready to take the shorter completion in those coverages.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs (1st and 10 or 2nd and short) so the run fake actually holds linebackers and the play-action animation sells.
Check the safety alignment before the snap: single high safeties open up the deep seam shot, while two high safeties suggest you should progress quicker to the corner route or the drags underneath.
If the defense shows man coverage with no safety help over the top, take the deep vertical shot immediately off the play-action fake for an explosive gain.
Against zone coverage shells, work the corner route into the void behind the flat defender and in front of the deep safety, then check down to the crossing drags if the window closes.
Pair this with Motion Power O or Motion Read Option from the same set to keep the defense honest on run fits, then dial up Mtn PA Slide once linebackers start cheating up on run action.
