PA Boot out of Shotgun Wing 12 personnel sells the run action then rolls the pocket to attack the play side with a four level flood. TE2 works a corner route to stretch the boundary while TE1 blocks and releases into the flat to hold the underneath defender, and on the backside WR1 runs a deep post to punish single high safeties while WR2 adds another corner route to the boundary. The line run blocks to sell the play fake, making this a play-action pass built to beat both man and zone coverage by overloading one side of the field with staggered route depths.

Defensive Reads

Identify the middle of field safety shell before the snap since one high alignments open up the deep post from WR1 as a big play answer. Watch the flat defender or curl flat player after the snap, if they widen fast to take away TE1 releasing to the flat that confirms zone drops and opens the corner route window behind them. Key the play side outside linebacker or slot corner for man coverage leverage, if they jump the corner route from TE2 early you can climb straight to WR1 on the post. Look for a user controlled defender sitting in the shallow flat trying to bait a throw to TE1, since that lurk threat is common against boot action and can cause a turnover if you rush the read. This concept struggles against a hard edge contain blitz that collapses the pocket before the boot fully develops, so recognize overload pressure pre-snap and be ready to hot route or check down quickly.

Usage Tips

Use this on early downs like first or second and medium when defenses are more likely to bite on the run fake and play action animation. Check the safety alignment before the snap: if you see two high safeties the deep post from WR1 becomes a strong answer versus split zone coverage, and if it is one high man look to work the corner routes on the play side since the boot puts extra hats to that edge. Hot route TE1 into a quicker flat or check release if you see an overload blitz off the edge, since the naked boot action is vulnerable to fast contain rushers. Pair this with Inside Zone or QB Zone from the same set so the run fake actually threatens the defense and the boot action holds linebackers longer. Save this for third and medium to long when you need a defined flood concept that gives you both an intermediate and a deep answer.

PA Boot

Quick Reference

In 2 playbooks

Receiver routes

Read progression

Breakdown

Defensive Reads

Usage Tips

Other Plays in Wing