Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Slide out of Strong I Close (21 personnel) sells the play-action fake to the backfield before working a three-level stretch to the play side. The slide route from the inline attached receiver runs a flat crosser underneath, the middle route breaks flat across the field from the opposite side, and both outside receivers push vertical seams up the numbers, while the red path shows the fullback or lead back sliding out to the flat as a checkdown off the fake. This is a play-action man beater that also stresses zone defenders on the slide route crossing underneath the two verticals, with the primary read progression starting on the underneath slide/crosser, moving to the flat/checkdown route, and going to the vertical shots up top if the play-action freezes the safeties.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify two deep safeties versus one deep safety: a single high safety indicates man coverage or Cover 3, which opens up the crossing slide route against a linebacker in man. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they step up hard to play-action, the slide route and flat route will be wide open underneath. Post-snap, key the flat defender or curl-to-flat zone defender, if he sinks with the slide route, look immediately to the checkdown in the flat off the fake. This play struggles against zone coverages with sound underneath linebacker drops (Cover 3 or Cover 4 with disciplined linebackers) since the shallow crossing route sits right in the throwing lanes for a user-controlled lurk defender. Blitz packages that send extra rushers off the edge can beat this play before the fake even develops, so check for overload pressure looks and be ready to get the ball out fast on the slide route or checkdown.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs (first or second and short to medium) so the play-action fake actually holds linebackers and safeties. Check the safety alignment pre-snap: if you see two deep safeties sitting at depth, they are respecting the pass and the play-action fake will not be as effective, so look to hit the underneath slide route quickly. If safeties are crowding the box expecting run, take advantage and progress to the vertical routes on the outside. Hot route the backside vertical receiver into a comeback or dig if you are getting Cover 3 with a hard flat defender sinking under the slide route. Pair this play in a sequence with HB Dive or FB Dive to set up the run fake, then call PA Slide once the defense starts keying run support from the linebackers. Against man coverage, trust the slide route to work versus linebackers who cannot stay in phase underneath.
