Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
RNS Rip 60 Z Slide is a full field passing concept out of Shotgun Spread Slots Close with 10 personnel on the field. The diagram shows two outside receivers running vertical seams, an inside slot receiver breaking into a slide route across the middle after a short crossing action, and a running back releasing to a flat/slide route out of the backfield. This is a zone beater built to attack seams and hole in the zone, with the primary read progression going from the deep vertical routes to the underneath slide, checking down to the running back if the middle window is not there.
Defensive Reads
Watch the middle linebacker depth at the snap since a shallow drop signals zone coverage and opens the window for the slide route to settle in the soft spot. Key the safeties pre-snap, a single high safety alignment tells you the vertical seams have less help over the top and can be attacked down the field. If cornerbacks are playing off coverage with outside leverage, expect the defense to squeeze the seam routes and look to the slide route as the higher percentage throw. Watch for user-controlled defenders sitting in the middle hook zone, since a smart user lurking there can jump the slide route and bait a turnover if the quarterback locks on too early. Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets exposed by the vertical seams, but disciplined zone drops with a deep half safety can take away both levels and force a check down to the running back.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing two-high or single-high safety alignment since the vertical routes on the outside are designed to stress deep zone coverage down the seams.
If you see a defense sitting in zone with linebackers dropping into hook/curl areas, look immediately for the slide route settling into the void behind the underneath defenders and in front of the deep coverage.
Use hot routes to convert one of the vertical routes into a comeback or dig if you diagnose a two-deep shell pre-snap, giving you an extra answer against split safety looks.
This play pairs well with RNS 60 Z Read in your play-calling sequence since both plays show similar vertical stems but attack different levels, keeping the defense honest against zone drops.
Best called on second or third and medium situations where the defense is likely to sit in zone coverage rather than bring pressure, since the slide route needs time to develop.
