Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
PA F Slide out of Weak I with 21 personnel is a play-action shot play that sells the fullback dive to freeze linebackers before attacking downfield. Off the fake, the fullback slides into a flat/checkdown route along the line, the TE runs a deep corner route from the backfield up the seam and out toward the sideline, and the outside receiver stems inside then breaks into a deep post while the far receiver runs a vertical post to the opposite side. The primary read progression starts with the post to the play-action side, then works to the corner route breaking to the boundary, and finally checks down to the fullback in the flat if the deep shots are covered, making this a man beater designed to exploit linebackers biting on the run fake.
Defensive Reads
Diagnose the defensive front pre-snap by checking linebacker depth, if they are stacked close to the line expecting run action out of Weak I, this play is designed to exploit that aggression with the deep shots. Identify single high safety looks as your green light for the deep post and corner routes since man coverage cornerbacks have to turn their hips and can lose ground on the break. Watch for two deep safeties rotating post-snap, which signals zone coverage and means you should look to squeeze the post route into the seam window before the safety can rotate over. Key on user-controlled defenders dropping into a lurk position near the intermediate zone, since a smart user can jump the corner route or the post if the quarterback telegraphs the throw. This play struggles against zone blitzes or contain rushers who ignore the run fake entirely and collapse the pocket quickly, so check the edge defenders pre-snap for two-way go alignments that suggest a quick pressure package.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs like first or second and short when defenses are geared up to stop the run out of Weak I, since the play-action fake plays best against run-committed fronts. Check the safety alignment pre-snap, two deep safeties tip zone coverage and favor the post route beating the seam, while a single high safety suggests man coverage and opens up the deep post or corner route against a cornerback playing outside leverage. Hot route the fullback into a quicker flat release against blitz-heavy looks so you have an outlet if the protection breaks down. Pair this call with HB Gut and Counter F earlier in a drive to get linebackers stepping up on run fakes, then hit them with PA F Slide once they start cheating downhill. Avoid calling this against aggressive nano blitz packages unless you have hot routed the fullback to account for an extra rusher, since the play-action fake takes an extra beat to develop and can get the quarterback hit before routes materialize.
