Playbooks
PA Slide out of Pro Slot Split Backs is a play-action pass built off a run fake with both backs in the backfield to sell the play fake before the quarterback works a slide protection rollout or half roll concept. The route combo typically layers a deep shot with an intermediate crosser and an underneath flat or slide route, giving the quarterback a high low read on one side of the field. This is a man beater against aggressive linebackers who bite on the run fake and a solid zone beater against teams that spin the safety down late, since the primary read progression starts with the deep shot off the play fake and works down to the intermediate slide route before checking to the underneath option.
Watch for linebackers who step up hard on the run fake, that is your cue the underneath slide route will be wide open in the vacated middle Check for a single high safety pre-snap, that usually signals man coverage underneath and tells you to attack the deep shot route against a beaten corner Identify cover 2 or cover 4 shells with safeties staying deep, this take away the deep shot and forces you to check down to the slide route or flat quickly Look for a user controlled defender lurking in the shallow crossing lane, that is the biggest threat to disrupt the read progression and bait an interception Recognize edge blitzes or contain rushers crashing the play action rollout lane, this forces the quarterback to speed up the throw or bail out and beats the timing of the deep route
Run this on early downs, first and second and short to medium, when the defense has shown run blitz tendencies or crashing linebackers in previous snaps
Check the safety alignment before the snap, two high shells give you time to work the deep shot on the play fake while single high shells mean you should be ready to peek the underneath slide route immediately
Use the play fake with both backs in Split Backs to freeze linebackers, then attack the vacated middle of the field if the mike linebacker steps up on the run action
Pair this with FB Belly or a called run out of the same personnel earlier in a series so the defense respects the run fake and the play action rollout hits harder
If the cornerback is playing off coverage, hot route the underneath receiver into a quick out to punish soft zone drops before the pass rush closes the pocket on the rollout
Combine this with Y Shallow Cross or Mesh in your play-calling sequence to condition the defense to expect quick game, then hit PA Slide when they start jumping short routes