Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Heel Boot is a play-action rollout concept out of Singleback Ace Slot with 12 personnel that pulls the quarterback away from the play call fake to hit a boot side flat and deep crosser combo. The backside receiver runs a deep post crosser while the near receiver breaks outside on a corner route, the inside slot climbs to a deep dig that crosses the field, and the fullback or TE releases into the flat as the boot side checkdown. Blocking is heavy play-action protection with the offensive line selling run action before working out to the boot side, and the primary read progression starts with the flat route to hold flat defenders, then works to the deep crossing dig, with the corner route as the shot play option if the safety bites on the run fake.
Defensive Reads
Key the play side flat defender first, if he sinks with the boot the flat route is covered but it opens a throwing lane for the deep dig behind him. Check the middle linebacker depth at the snap, if he steps up hard on the run fake the deep crossing route will have room to work against man coverage. Identify single high versus two high safety shells before the snap, single high leaves the deep dig and corner routes vulnerable while two high shells can rotate down and take away the shot play. Watch for a user controlled defender spying the quarterback rollout lane, since a disciplined spy or contain rush can force an early throw or a scramble drill. Cover 3 zone drops can be beaten by sitting the dig route in the void behind the flat defender, but a fast closing cornerback in man coverage on the corner route is the biggest threat to the shot play option.
Usage Tips
Call this play on early downs when you have already established the run game so the play-action freeze actually holds linebackers and safeties.
Roll out with the quarterback and use the flat route as your outlet if the pocket collapses, since it gives you a built-in checkdown against blitzes.
Watch for single high safety shells pre-snap, because the deep dig and corner combo punishes Cover 3 and Cover 1 when the safety cheats toward run support.
Hot route the fullback into a quicker flat release against teams that bring pressure off the edge to beat contain blitzes before the rollout fully develops.
Pair this with HB Dive Lt or HB Power O earlier in the drive so the play-action fake actually sells, then mix in PA Boot Over from the same set to keep defenders guessing on rollout direction.
