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Breakdown
PA Slide is a play-action pass out of Shotgun Wing Stack Wk with 12 personnel that sells a run fake before attacking the intermediate and deep parts of the field. Off the play fake, one receiver runs a deep post/corner up the left sideline while a shallow crosser works underneath from right to left across the formation, and the backside receiver runs a slide/out route to the flat with a check release running back sitting underneath as a safety valve. The primary read progression starts with the deep vertical route to see if the play fake pulled the safety down, then works to the shallow crosser sitting in the middle void, and finally checks down to the flat route or the running back if the initial reads are covered.
Defensive Reads
Identify single high safety looks pre-snap since the deep sideline route is designed to exploit a safety who steps up to defend the run action. Watch linebacker depth at the snap. If linebackers sink immediately into the shallow crossing lane without honoring the play fake, the underneath route progression will be tight and you should be ready to go directly to the deep shot instead. Cover 3 with an aggressive flat defender can jump the slide/out route to the flat, so know before the snap whether the defense has a corner sitting low in that zone. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the weak point for this concept, since the post/corner combo can win one-on-one against most cornerbacks off the play-action hold. Watch for a delayed linebacker blitz off the edge, since the play fake can leave the offensive line handling extra rushers, and a fast interior blitz can force an early checkdown before the deep route develops.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs (first or second and short to medium) when defenses are most likely to bite on run action, since the play fake is the core selling point.
Check the safety depth pre-snap. If you see a single high safety cheating up near the box, the deep shot up the sideline has a strong chance to hit before the coverage rotates.
Hot route the shallow crosser into a deeper drag or dig against zone shells that sit their linebackers in the shallow window, since that route can get clogged by underneath zone defenders.
Pair this play with RPO Read Bubble or RPO Zone Peek from the same set so the defense has to respect the run and quick game before you come back with the play-action shot, keeping linebackers and safeties hesitant.
Against aggressive run defenses, feed inside zone or gap runs from this set first to bait defenders into flowing hard, then dial up PA Slide once you have their linebackers and safety keying run fits.
