Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 11 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Slot Under is a play-action pass out of Shotgun Trey Open that uses a run fake to hold linebackers before attacking the middle of the field. The backside receiver runs a deep crossing route to the opposite sideline while the two innermost trey receivers work an under route to the flat and a corner route on top of it, and the outside trey receiver pushes vertical up the seam. The primary read starts with the seam vertical route, then works down to the corner route sitting behind it, using the under route as a checkdown against underneath zone defenders. This concept is designed to beat zone coverage by stacking the seam and corner in the same window while the deep cross clears out space on the backside.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is in a two high shell or single high look, since this concept is built to attack zone coverage with the stacked seam and corner combo. Post-snap, key the linebacker who has to respect the play-action fake. If he bites hard on the run, the under route and seam will both be open behind him. Watch for a user-controlled safety sitting in the deep middle third, since that defender can jump the corner route if he reads the quarterback's eyes early. Cover 3 with a hard-charging linebacker on the blitz can disrupt the play-action fake and force an early throw, so identify blitz packages before the snap and be ready to check to a quicker route. Man coverage with no safety help over the seam is the biggest vulnerability, since the seam vertical route wins immediately against inside leverage corners or slower linebackers in coverage.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs when the defense shows run support to the trey side, since the play-action fake is more likely to freeze linebackers and open the seam window.
Read the safety alignment before the snap. If you see two high safeties bail into deep zones, prioritize the corner route sitting underneath them rather than forcing the seam.
Hot route the deep cross into a deeper dig if you are facing single high coverage, since the backside defender often has help over the top on the crosser as drawn.
Pair this with Curls or Quick Slants earlier in a drive to condition the defense to shorter throws, then hit PA Slot Under once linebackers start creeping up expecting run or quick game.
Against man coverage, look immediately to the seam vertical for a big play if the corner is playing outside leverage, since the route stacks on top of the under route and creates natural traffic.
