Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Slide is a play-action pass out of Split Backs Offset Wing Close that opens with a run fake to hold the linebackers before the QB works to a three level stretch on the play side. The slot receiver runs a deep crosser that clears through the middle of the field while the outside receiver stacks behind it on a corner route, creating a natural man beater with the crossing traffic and a zone beater against Cover 3 due to the seam clear out. Underneath, the TE releases into a shallow drag along the line of scrimmage as the checkdown, with the primary read progression starting at the deep corner route, working down to the crosser, and finishing with the drag if the play fake holds the defense long enough.
Defensive Reads
Diagnose the linebacker depth immediately after the snap. If they bite hard on the run fake and drop late, the shallow drag and crosser will both be open in the intermediate window. Watch for a single high safety rotating late. This is the biggest indicator of Cover 3 or Cover 1, both of which are vulnerable to the corner route sneaking behind the rotating corner. Look for user controlled defenders sitting in the middle of the field trying to lurk the crosser. If you see this, adjust the read to the corner route since the middle will be clogged. Cover 2 shells with two deep safeties can squeeze the corner route, so be ready to check down to the drag route underneath if the safety is sitting on top of the route stem. Blitz packages that send extra defenders off the edge can be problematic since the play fake takes time to sell, so identify pre-snap blitz indicators like walked up linebackers or safeties creeping into the box before committing to this play.
Usage Tips
Use the play fake to your advantage on early downs when the defense is stacking the box against Split Backs personnel because the run action from the backfield holds linebackers and freezes underneath defenders.
Key the safety alignment before the snap. If you see a single high safety shaded to the play side, the corner route is going to be contested so prioritize the deep crosser instead.
Hot route the shallow drag into a spot route versus zone heavy defenses if you need a faster underneath answer against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells.
Pair this with FB Dive or HB Off Tackle earlier in a series so the defense respects the run fake, then come back to PA Slide once the linebackers start creeping up on early downs.
Best used on second and short or first and ten when defenses are more willing to bite on the run action, giving the deep routes extra time to develop against man coverage.
