Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
PA Boot uses a play-action fake from Pistol to hold the linebackers before the QB boots to the right edge. From Trips Left Open, the three receivers stacked left run a deep corner route, a mid-depth out breaking route, and a shallow crosser working right to left underneath, while the isolated receiver on the right side runs a vertical seam up the numbers. This is a play-action rollout designed as a man beater on the boot side, with the crosser giving a built-in answer versus man coverage and the vertical stretching one on one matchups deep.
Defensive Reads
Watch for user linebackers spying the QB boot lane, since a disciplined defender can shut down the scramble and force a checkdown. Identify if the defense drops into zone coverage after the fake, because the shallow crosser sits in the zone soft spot and is the primary answer versus Tampa 2 or Cover 3. Look at cornerback depth on the trips side before the snap, soft corners invite the corner route to sit down for an easy pitch and catch. Post-snap, track any safety rotating late toward the boot side, a hard rotation to that side signals the defense is keying the play-action and will jump the corner or crosser. Against man coverage with no safety help over the top, the backside vertical route is the biggest exposure point, so defenders must get a jam or trail tightly to prevent the deep shot.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs or 2nd and manageable to sell the run fake convincingly and freeze linebackers.
Key the flow of the second and third level defenders at the snap, if they bite hard on the play fake the crosser and corner route both open up quickly.
Use the vertical route on the backside as a hot route check versus single high safety looks where the corner is playing off, it is a built in home run shot.
Pair this with HB Dive or Close HB Dive earlier in a series so the defense respects the run action out of Pistol, making the boot fake far more effective.
Roll the pocket with the QB deliberately to buy time versus edge pressure, since the boot naturally moves the QB away from backside rushers.
