Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Boot Over is a play-action rollout out of the Bunch TE set that pulls the QB to the right on a boot fake while the bunch releases into a three-level stretch on the same side. The two outside receivers push vertical seams up the numbers, the inside slot cuts to a deep out that settles in the flat-to-intermediate window, and the TE runs a shallow drag/flat route across the formation to give the QB an outlet if the boot is contained. Blocking is a slide protection to the play side to hold up the edge on the fake, and this is a play-action man beater that also stresses zone defenders forced to run with the verticals while covering the flat and drag underneath.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a single high safety who bites down on the run fake, since that leaves the vertical routes from the bunch open behind him against man coverage. Key the play side outside linebacker or slot corner at the snap: if he sprints to the flat to squeeze the boot, the deep out from the bunch is coming open in the void behind him. Look for corners pressing the bunch receivers pre-snap, which signals man coverage and tells you to trust the verticals on time rather than checking down early. Identify blitz packages that send extra rushers off the play side edge, since a fast contain rusher can collapse the boot pocket before the TE drag develops. Against a two-high shell that rotates to cover three deep, the underneath drag and flat combination becomes the primary answer because the safeties will be occupied by the vertical stems from the bunch.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs or second-and-medium when the defense has shown a heavy run look, since the boot fake sells hardest against teams keying run fits from the bunch. Check pre-snap for a single high safety or two-high shell rotating late, because the vertical routes from the bunch attack single high man coverage best while the drag and flat combo is your answer against a rolled zone shell. Your first read should be the deep out from the middle of the bunch if the corner bites on the play-action, then work down to the TE drag underneath if the boot gets contained or the defense drops into zone. Hot route the backside or use flat protection if you see a hard edge blitz off the boot side, since the naked side is vulnerable to contain rushers who ignore the fake. Pair this with Bunch Levels or Mtn TE Corner from the same set so the defense has to respect both quick game and play-action shots off identical formation and personnel, keeping linebackers and DBs honest on run fits.
