Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Go Slot Cross runs a play-action fake out of Shotgun Tight Y Off with the outside receiver stemming into a deep Go route up the numbers while the slot receiver runs a shallow drag that crosses the field underneath. The tight end on the strong side releases vertically up the seam before breaking outside on a corner route, and the running back stays in to sell run action off the fake before checking release. This is a play-action shot play built to attack man coverage on the deep Go while giving you a crosser as a built-in checkdown against zone drops, so the primary read progression starts with the vertical Go on an isolated corner, works to the seam to corner breaking route, and finishes with the underneath crosser if the shot is covered.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high safety looks since this play is designed to punish Cover 1 and Cover 3 with the isolated Go route. Watch cornerback press alignment on the outside receiver. If he is playing tight man with no help over the top, the Go route wins immediately after the play action hold. Post-snap, key the flow of the linebackers on the run fake. If they bite hard downhill, the crosser will have a wide open lane underneath. Look for a user controlled defender sitting in a deep third or playing lurk over the middle, since that defender can undercut both the corner route and the crossing route if he reads play action fast. Against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with two deep safeties, this play loses value on the Go route so prioritize the seam to corner breaker before the safety can rotate over.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs like 1st and 10 or 2nd and short so the play-action fake actually holds linebackers and safeties.
Check the deep safety alignment pre-snap. If you see one high with the corner playing outside leverage on the Go route, that is your green light to take the shot immediately off the fake.
If the defense shows two high safeties or soft zone shells, work the progression down to the seam to corner breaker and be ready to reset to the shallow crosser as your zone beater.
Hot route the running back into a check release or additional blocker versus heavy blitz looks since the play action fake needs time to develop.
Pair this with Mesh Spot or Switch WR Drag from the same set to keep defenses honest on shallow crossing routes, then hit this shot play once they start jumping the underneath stuff.
