PA Boot Slide

Watch for a single high safety pre-snap since that alignment signals man coverage or Cover 3, both of which are vulnerable to the deep corner routes on the boot. If you see two safeties deep pre-snap, expect Cover 2 or Cover 4 which shrinks the throwing windows on the outside routes and forces you to the slide route underneath. Key the flow of the linebackers after the snap since aggressive run fits toward the fullback slide fake open up the underlying slide route for an easy completion. Watch for a user controlled defender spying the boot lane or dropping into a lurk position on the slide route, as this is the most common way defenses shut this play down. Man coverage with an overhang defender to the boot side is the toughest matchup, so if you see press man alignment on the outside receiver, consider hitting the underneath slide route earlier in the progression instead of pushing it downfield.