Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Boot from Singleback Bunch TE shows a play-action rollout off the bunch look with the QB booting to the right edge of the offensive line. The bunch releases three routes to the left: a deep corner/post out of the bunch, a shallow crosser sitting underneath, and an outlet flat route breaking the opposite direction for a quick checkdown. On the right side, the isolated receiver runs a deep out that flattens toward the sideline, giving the rolling QB a stretch read from the deep out down to the flat as he moves outside the pocket. This is a play-action man beater that also holds zone defenders with the run fake before the QB works his half-field flood concept on the boot side.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a single high safety pre-snap, this indicates man coverage or Cover 3 which the boot rollout and deep out combo can exploit. If both safeties stay deep in a two high shell, expect Cover 4 or Cover 2 concepts that clamp down on the corner route out of the bunch, so lean on the shallow crosser and flat outlet. Track linebacker depth before the snap. Linebackers sitting shallow are susceptible to the run fake and will vacate coverage lanes for the crosser. Post-snap, look for a user controlled defender flowing hard to the flat or spying the QB on the rollout, since this signals a designed contain call meant to shut down the boot action. Edge pressure or a contain blitz from the boot side is the biggest threat, it forces the QB to throw off platform or check it down early, so recognize blitz alignments pre-snap and be ready to get the ball out on the flat route quickly.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs when you have already established the run game from Singleback Bunch TE so linebackers respect the fake and bite on the play fake.
Pre-snap, identify single high versus two high safeties. Single high shells with aggressive linebackers are prime targets since the boot pulls defenders out of position.
Key on the flat defender to the boot side. If he sinks with the deep out, hit the shallow crosser coming across the middle for an easy pickup.
Use the deep out on the isolated receiver as your first read if you get a rollout window against man coverage, since the receiver breaks away from trailing corners.
Sequence this with Inside Zone and PA Draw Shot from the same set so the defense keys run first, then punish overaggressive fits with this boot concept later in the series.
