Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Boot is a play-action rollout out of Singleback Bunch Ace 12 personnel that pulls the QB to the boot side away from the bunch. The bunch alignment fires two receivers on shallow crossers underneath (one settling as an outlet, one continuing to the far sideline on a deep out) while the outside receiver on the boot side runs a deep corner or go route as the vertical shot. The primary read progression starts with the deep corner route to see if the boot action pulled the safety down, then works back down to the shallow crosser settling short as the checkdown if the top is covered.
Defensive Reads
Watch the safety depth at the snap, if he steps up hard on run action the corner route behind him is the immediate shot to take. Identify user-controlled defenders flowing toward the boot side, since they can jump the shallow crossers and disrupt the checkdown route. Zone coverage that keeps a deep defender over the top and sinks a linebacker into the shallow crossing lane will take away both the deep shot and the checkdown. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the ideal shell to attack, the corner route wins against trail technique once the boot buys extra time. Watch for edge blitzers or contain defenders crashing down on the QB rollout, since a disciplined edge rush can force a bad throw or sack before the corner route develops.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or manageable third downs where defenses expect run or play-action out of a heavy 12 personnel bunch look.
Check pre-snap for single high safety, since PA Boot punishes defenses that bite on the run fake and vacate the deep half behind the boot.
Roll the QB with the play-action and immediately scan the corner route first, this is your explosive play answer if the safety steps up.
If the defense shows two high safeties pre-snap, be ready to work the shallow crossers underneath quickly since the deep shot will be tougher to hit.
Pair this with a quick game concept like Stick or Z Spot earlier in a drive to sell the same bunch look and set up the play-action boot later.
