Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Slide out of Strong I Z Close is a play-action shot play that opens with a fake handoff to freeze the linebackers before the QB rolls to the boundary. Off the fake, the backside receiver runs a deep crosser all the way across the field, the TE and slot run a deep out and a corner route stacked on the strong side, and the fullback releases on a shallow drag underneath the pocket as a checkdown. It is primarily a man beater that stresses horizontal zone coverage too, with the deep crosser as the first read, the corner and out combo as the intermediate window, and the drag as the last resort dump-off.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they step up hard on the run fake it confirms they are vulnerable to the deep crosser working behind them. Identify single high safety shells before the snap since that alignment leaves the deep out and corner route combo on the strong side wide open. Key the flow of the strong side corner, if he sinks into a deep zone drop rather than matching the corner route man to man, that signals zone coverage and the sideline window opens up. Read edge pressure timing closely, a nano blitz off the strong side can beat the rollout protection before routes fully develop downfield. Look for a user-controlled defender sitting in the shallow crossing lane, since that lurk threat can jump the drag route or undercut the crosser if he reads run action late.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs like 1st and 10 or 2nd and short so the run fake actually holds the linebackers and safeties.
Check the safety alignment pre-snap: if you see two high safeties sitting deep, prioritize the deep out and corner combo since the crosser will have less room to work.
Against man coverage, trust the deep crosser, it is designed to lose linebackers and slower corners chasing across the field, especially against man to man press.
Hot route the fullback into a flat route if you expect a blitz, giving the QB an instant answer against overload pressure off the edge.
Pair this with HB Dive and Counter Weak from the same set so the run fake carries real threat and defenders bite on the play-action rollout.
