Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Boot is a play-action rollout out of Pistol Ace Double Wing that pulls the offensive line to sell run action while the quarterback boots away from the pocket. The route diagram shows a corner route breaking outside up the numbers, a dig/sit route sliding across the middle to the flat side, and a shallow flat route from the backfield to the boot side, giving the quarterback a clear high-low read as he rolls out. This is a play-action man and zone beater built for rollout throws, with the primary read progression going flat first to hold underneath defenders, then the dig, and finally the corner route as the deep shot if the safety bites on the run fake.
Defensive Reads
Check safety depth before the snap, a safety creeping up into the box signals aggressive run support and makes him vulnerable to the corner route over the top. Watch the flat defender at the snap, if he crashes hard on the run fake the shallow route to the boot side will be wide open immediately. Against man coverage the dig route working across the field is the primary man beater since it creates natural separation off the rollout angle. Zone defenses with a sinking linebacker into the dig window can take away the intermediate read, forcing the quarterback to check down to the flat. Watch for user-controlled defenders spying the quarterback on the boot side, a disciplined edge defender who stays home can collapse the rollout lane and force an early, inaccurate throw.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs when the defense is stacking the box expecting Ace Double Wing run concepts like Mtn Duo or Mtn HB Power O, since the play action freezes linebackers who key run fits. Roll the pocket fully to the boot side before throwing to keep the quarterback outside contain and buy extra time against edge rushers. Read the flat defender first, if he sinks with the shallow route the dig behind him is open in the intermediate window. Hot route the corner route into a deeper comeback against soft zone shells if the safety is sitting at 12 yards pre-snap. Sequence this with Read Option and HB Dive earlier in a drive to condition the defense to bite on run keys before dialing up the boot for a bigger explosive play.
