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Quick Reference
Not in any team playbook.
Breakdown
PA Boot Slide is a play-action rollout out of Maryland I in the Tight Close set, built off run fakes from the fullback backfield to sell the boot action before the QB rolls out. The route concept shows a deep crosser breaking hard to the far sideline off a corner-style route, a slide route working from the backfield through the middle flat before turning upfield, and a deep out route from the inline tight end that stretches the boundary. This is a play-action man beater at its core, with the primary read progression starting on the deep crosser working across the field, then coming down to the slide route settling in the intermediate middle, and finally the deep out as the boundary bailout against zone drops.
Defensive Reads
Watch for cornerbacks bailing into deep zones pre-snap, which signals a zone shell that lets the slide route sit open in the intermediate middle. Key the play side linebacker depth at the snap since a shallow drop means he can jump the slide route and disrupt the primary read. Identify man coverage by checking if defenders mirror the tight end and crosser through their initial breaks rather than sinking into zone drops. Look for a delayed edge blitz off the boot side, which can collapse the pocket before the deep crosser fully develops downfield. Against Cover 3, the deep out from the tight end is the zone beater since it sits in the void between the flat defender and deep third corner.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs after establishing HB Blast or FB Dive to sell the run fake and freeze linebackers before the boot action develops.
Check pre-snap for single high safety looks since the deep crosser and deep out stretch the field horizontally and vertically against man coverage.
If you see two deep safeties sitting on the sideline routes, hot route the slide receiver into a quicker breaking option to beat underneath zone defenders before they can sink.
Roll the QB away from the boot direction shown in the diagram to buy extra time against edge pressure and to keep the crosser in your sightline the entire route.
Pair this with PA Boot and PA FB Sail in the same drive to keep defenders guessing on which way the boot action and route combos will break.
