Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Fake HB Zone QB Bootlt is a play-action rollout off the inside zone run fake from I Form H Tight, designed to freeze linebackers and safeties who bite on the run action before the QB boots to the left edge. The blocking up front sells zone run steps to the play side, and the fullback and offensive line flow like a zone run while the QB carries out the fake and rolls out with a mix of a checkdown flare, an intermediate crosser, and a deep shot to the backside. This is a play-action man and zone beater, and the primary read progression starts with the flat or drag route underneath, moves to the intermediate crosser working across the field, and finishes with a shot down the sideline if the safety bites on the run fake.
Defensive Reads
Read the play side linebacker first, if he steps up hard on the run fake he is out of position to defend the flat or crosser and you should attack that space immediately. Check for a lurking defender sitting in the shallow zone near the boot side, since a disciplined defense that does not bite on the run fake can sit in that throwing lane and jump the flat route. Watch the backside safety post snap, if he stays deep and does not creep down on the run fake this play loses its explosive shot potential and you should live underneath. Identify man coverage by seeing if a cornerback or safety follows the crossing route across the field, a defender staying attached in man coverage is a sign the crosser will be tightly covered and the flat or checkdown becomes the better option. Beware of contain blitzes or edge pressure sent right at the boot direction, since a fast edge defender who does not respect the run fake can disrupt the timing of the rollout and force an early or errant throw.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs like first and ten or second and short so the run fake actually threatens the defense and linebackers stay honest.
Check the safety alignment before the snap, if you see a single high safety creeping toward the box on early downs that is your green light since it means the defense respects the inside zone look.
Hot route the flat route to a flag or corner route against teams that key run fakes hard with their linebackers, since it turns their aggression into a big play window.
Pair this with 26 Duo and HB Stretch earlier in a drive to condition the defense to sell hard on zone run action, then hit them with this bootleg to cash in on their overreaction.
Roll the pocket away from pressure by using the QB Bootlt naturally, but if the edge defender squeezes the fake, get the ball out on the quick flat route instead of forcing the deeper crosser.
