Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
PA F Slide is a play-action pass out of Shotgun Split Y-Flex with 21 personnel that shows a run fake before the QB works a deep crossing route concept. Off the play fake, the backside receiver runs a deep dig that crosses the field underneath two vertical routes on the play side, while the fullback releases into the shallow flat as a safety valve, and the TE and outside receiver stack the numbers with a corner route and a deep out breaking to the sideline. This is a zone beater designed to stress the middle of the field with the crossing route while the two vertical stems on the right hold the deep defenders, and the primary read progression starts with the deep crosser, moves to the corner route in the flat, and checks down to the fullback if the play action freezes the linebackers.
Defensive Reads
Watch the linebacker depth immediately after the snap; if they bite hard on the run fake, the deep crosser will have a wide throwing lane across the middle. Identify Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells pre-snap since the deep crosser is designed to exploit the seam between the flat defender and the deep middle defender in those zone shells. Key the flat defender or nickel corner on the play side: if they sink too deep to cover the corner route, the fullback in the shallow flat becomes an easy check down against soft zone coverage. Against man coverage with a blitz look, the play action fake can get the quarterback hit quickly, so recognize A-gap or B-gap blitz pressure pre-snap and be ready to protect the QB with a hot route rather than relying on the concept to develop. User a linebacker or safety to sit in the shallow crossing lane since that lurk defender can bait the QB into throwing the deep dig into a jumped route if the offense stares it down.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs like first or second and medium to long yardage so the play fake actually influences linebackers and safeties before they drop into coverage.
Check the safety alignment pre-snap: if you see two high safeties sitting deep, prioritize the deep crosser since it will settle in the soft spot between the hashes as zone defenders bite on the run fake.
If the defense shows single high or man coverage indicators like a safety rotated into the box, hot route the fullback into a quicker option or peek the corner route early since man defenders will trail the crosser instead of sinking.
Pair this play with HB Draw or Inside Zone Split earlier in a series so the defense keys run action, making the play fake on PA F Slide even more effective at holding linebackers.
Sequence PA F Slide with Y Post or Corner Strike since both stress vertical zones on the same side, forcing the defense to guess whether you are attacking deep or working the intermediate crosser.
