Playbooks
Mtn PA PoCo Slide
Likely unavailable in the playbook builder
Quick Reference
Not in any team playbook.
Breakdown
Mtn PA PoCo Slide is a play-action shot play out of Singleback Wing 12 personnel that uses jet or fly motion across the formation before the snap to manipulate the second level. Post-snap the play-action fake sucks up the linebackers while the backside receiver runs a post corner off the top of the play, the inline TE releases into a shallow out breaking route, and the frontside slot pushes a corner route to occupy the flat and deep quarter. Underneath, the offensive line executes a slide protection to the play side to wall off the edge rush, giving the quarterback a clean pocket to read the post corner first, then work down to the corner route and out breaking route as checkdowns.
Defensive Reads
Read the cornerback over the post corner receiver at the snap, if he stays flat footed or sinks deep without breaking on the initial stem you are likely in zone and should hold the ball an extra beat. Check safety depth and shell pre-snap, two deep safeties invite the post corner to work the seam between them while a single high safety means you need to read leverage on the corner route instead. Watch for a linebacker spy or edge blitz off the slide protection side, since the slide only accounts for one gap the quarterback must feel pressure off the backside quickly. Man coverage teams that press the frontside slot receiver at the line can jump the corner route, so know before the snap if you need to work the post corner earlier in your progression. Zone teams that pattern match Cover 2 or Cover 4 will carry the post corner route with the safety, forcing you to check down to the shallow out or use your checkdown to move the chains instead of forcing the shot play.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion to identify man versus zone before the snap, if the defender runs across the formation with your motion man you know you have man coverage and the post corner becomes a lock read.
Call this on early downs like 1st and 10 or 2nd and medium when defenses are more willing to sell out on run action from 12 personnel.
Against Cover 2 shells, trust the post corner to split the safety and corner in the seam since the double move stresses the deep half defender who has to respect the vertical stem first.
Pair this play with Mtn HB Dive or Mtn HB Slam earlier in a drive to sell the run fake and get linebackers stepping up before you dial up the play-action shot.
If the user drops a lurk defender into the shallow out route window, reset your progression to the frontside corner route since it clears that same underneath zone.
