Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Boot Flow is a play-action rollout out of the I Form Close, 21 personnel set that pulls the QB toward the flow of the fake handoff. The diagram shows a deep crosser breaking from the backside all the way across the field, a corner route releasing outside from the inline TE, an intermediate out breaking underneath the corner, and a flat route running the opposite direction to hold underneath defenders. The offensive line slides with the boot action to protect the edge, and the primary read progresses from the flat route to the intermediate out to the deep crosser as the QB works through his rollout.
Defensive Reads
Man coverage defenders who bite hard on the run fake will trail the deep crosser late, so watch for the safety cheating to cut off that route over the middle. Zone defenses with linebackers dropping to the flat can take away the underneath flat route, forcing the QB to climb the ladder to the out or crosser. Contain defensive ends or user-controlled edge rushers who stay home on the boot side can collapse the pocket and force an early, inaccurate throw. Cover 3 shells with a hard flowing strong safety tend to jump the intermediate out route, so identify strong safety alignment before the snap. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers from the play-action side can beat the sliding protection, so check depth of the defensive line and any late-shifting linebackers before the snap.
Usage Tips
Sell the run fake with a deliberate handoff animation before rolling out, since defenders keying run flow will bite and open passing lanes.
Use this on early downs (1st and 2nd and short to medium) when the defense is stacked to stop the run based on personnel and alignment.
Check for single high safety looks pre-snap, since PA Boot Flow attacks the void created when the safety has to respect run action.
Hot route the flat route to a flat sit or seam adjustment against teams that squeeze the boot flow with contain defenders.
Pair this with HB Zone Toss or Power O earlier in a drive to establish run tendencies, then dial up PA Boot Flow to punish overaggressive linebacker flow.
