Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
PA Slot Stop is a play-action pass out of Singleback Doubles that sells a run fake before flooding the field with a five-man route concept. The backside receiver runs a deep comeback while the play-side stack releases into a corner route up top and a stop route underneath, and the tight end works an under route from the backfield area while the outside receiver on the strongside runs a deep out breaking to the boundary. This is primarily a zone beater, using the stop and corner combo to stretch flat defenders and hi-lo zone drops, with the deep comeback on the backside serving as the primary read if the corner squats on the stop.
Defensive Reads
Watch for Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells pre-snap, since this play is designed to attack zone drops with the stop and corner stack. If the defense shows two deep safeties before the snap, expect the corner route to be capped, so key the comeback route on the backside for the more open window. Post-snap, identify if a linebacker or nickel defender sits in the flat zone, this defender determines whether the stop route or the underneath crosser has room. Look for user-controlled defenders jumping the stop route immediately after the play-action fake, this often opens the deep corner route behind them. Man coverage with no safety help over the top shuts this play down quickly, since the comeback and stop routes need zone spacing to separate.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs after establishing the run game so the play-action freeze actually holds linebackers and safeties.
Check the strong safety and corner depth pre-snap, if they are sitting shallow expecting run support the deep comeback and corner route will have room to work.
Hot route the underneath stop to a quick out if you see man coverage on that receiver, since the stop concept struggles against tight man with no natural separation.
Pair this play with HB Dive or Inside Zone from the same Doubles personnel to keep the defense guessing between run and pass without changing personnel.
Best called on second and medium to long or first down after a positive run, since the deep shots need time to develop off the play-action drop.
