Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Slide is a play-action shot play out of Shotgun Tight Slots that sells inside zone before working two vertical routes into the same side of the field. The diagram shows one receiver breaking outside and up the sideline while the second receiver runs a skinny post that crosses inside toward the same deep third, creating a natural high low stretch on one deep defender. The backfield player checks protection off the play fake (the flat route icon under the line) before releasing, and the primary read progression goes from the inside seam breaking post to the outside vertical if the safety jumps the shallow crosser.
Defensive Reads
Pre snap identify the single high safety and note his depth, if he is sitting shallow he can more easily jump the skinny post so expect the quarterback to work the outside vertical instead. Watch the play side linebacker at the snap, if he steps up hard on the run fake he cannot get width to help on the crossing route and that throwing lane opens immediately. Cover 3 with a hard flying corner to the play side can undercut the outside vertical, so the post becomes the higher percentage throw against that shell. Man coverage with a deep half safety over the top is the toughest look for this concept since he can rob either vertical route, look for the offense to counter with a hot route into the flat against that alignment. If the defense shows two high safeties pre snap and one rotates down late, that is often a disguised blitz or man press call, and user controlled defenders will try to lurk the shallow crossing route so timing the throw before that defender settles is critical.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs when you have already established the run game from Tight Slots so the play fake actually holds linebackers and safeties for a beat.
Look for single high shells pre-snap since the two converging verticals overload one deep defender and force a choice between the post and the corner breaking route.
Hot route the check release back into a quick flat or drag if you see a blitz look with fewer than two deep defenders, giving yourself an outlet instead of forcing the ball downfield.
Pair this with HB Mid Draw or Mtn Inside Zone earlier in a series so defenders start reading run on similar formations, then dial up PA Slide to hit the play fake window.
Use PA Slide on second and short or first and ten after a successful run play, since defenders are more likely to bite on the zone fake and open up the vertical shots.
