Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
PA Boot Rt is a play-action rollout out of Singleback Bunch Ace that pulls the QB to the right edge behind the run fake, giving him a moving pocket with easy access to a three-level flood on the boot side. The yellow route runs a deep corner/go from the bunch, the red route works a deep crosser from the backside, and the blue route flattens out into the flat as the checkdown, while the white route runs a short drag underneath from the backfield or slot. This is a play-action man beater built around the boot flood, and the primary read progression starts with the deep corner route, works down to the deep crosser if the corner is capped, and finishes at the flat route as the built-in outlet.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high versus two high safeties since a lone deep safety will struggle to cover both the corner route and the deep crosser on the boot side. Watch cornerback depth on the bunch side, tight press alignment signals man coverage which favors the corner route beating a trail defender over the top. Post-snap, key the flow of the middle linebacker, if he bites hard on the run fake the underdrag and flat combo behind him will be wide open. This play struggles against a hard edge blitz or contain defender crashing the boot side quickly, since it collapses the QB's rollout lane before routes develop. Zone shells with a deep half safety rotating to the boot side can squeeze the corner route, so if you see a two high shell rotating late, look to the flat and drag combo underneath instead.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs or in run-heavy personnel situations where linebackers are keying the run fake and biting on the play-action.
Check the flow of the linebackers pre-snap, if they are stacked tight to the box the boot action should hold them for an extra beat and open the flood.
Roll the QB out with purpose and get your eyes to the deep corner route first since it stresses cornerbacks playing off man or trail technique.
Hot route the flat route into a wheel if you see a linebacker sitting in the flat with no deep threat, this turns a checkdown into an explosive play against man coverage.
Pair this with PA Boot and PA Boot Slide in the same drive to keep defenders guessing on which way the boot flows, then mix in Inside Zone Split as the true run action to sell the fake even harder.
