Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Slide is a play-action pass out of Strong I with 21 personnel that opens with a run fake to hold the linebackers before the QB works a three level slide concept to the right. The three receiving routes stack from shallow to deep on the right side: a flat/drag underneath, a deep in breaking crossing route in the middle, and a corner route breaking outside from the number two receiver, while the backside receiver runs a shallow drag away from the fake. The offensive line shows slide protection sealing the edge to hold up the play fake, and the primary read progression starts with the deep corner route to check the safety, then works down to the intermediate in cut, and finally to the flat/drag as the checkdown.
Defensive Reads
Identify the middle linebacker's run fit pre-snap, if he steps up hard on the play fake you have a clean window to hit the deep in route over the middle. Watch the strong side safety at the snap, if he sinks and widens toward the corner route the underneath in cut will be wide open against off coverage. Man coverage on the number two receiver is exposed by the corner route's outside break, so look for a corner in trail technique as a green light to attack that sideline. Cover 3 defenders who jump the flat/drag route will open a throwing lane to the deep in route running behind them, so track the flat defender's depth after the snap. Watch for a user controlled linebacker spying the play fake or a lurking safety sitting in the shallow crosser's window, since aggressive lurk play will bait a pick six if you force the deep in read too early.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs like first or second and short to medium yardage so the run fake actually threatens the defense and freezes linebackers. Check the safety alignment pre-snap, if you see a single high safety cheating toward the strong side, expect the corner route to be taken away and plan on working the deep in route instead. Against zone shells with two deep safeties, the deep in crosser sits down in the honey hole between the flat defender and the deep half safety, so hitch up and throw with anticipation. Hot route the backside shallow drag into a deeper option like a dig if the defense keeps sending extra numbers to the play side flat. Pair this with HB Dive or Inside Zone from the same formation to sell the run action, then call PA Slide once the defense starts cheating linebackers up on early downs.
