PA Boot Slide is a play-action rollout out of Singleback Bunch TE that pulls the QB to the right on a boot fake after a run fake, giving him a horizontal stretch to read. The bunch releases two vertical breaking routes up top (a corner route and a deep out) while the backside receiver runs a slide/drag underneath the formation, and the flat receiver runs a shallow flat route to hold the edge defender. The blocking is set up to seal the play-action fake and protect the rollout, making this a man beater against aggressive linebackers and a zone beater on the underneath slide against cover 3 or cover 2 shells. The primary read progression is flat to slide underneath first, then working up to the deep out breaking route, with the corner route as the last resort shot play if the safety bites on the run fake.

Defensive Reads

Check safety depth before the snap, a single high safety cheating to the play side signals the corner route will be taken away over the top Watch the flat defender post snap, if he widens with the flat route the slide underneath will be open in the void behind him Cover 3 defenses are vulnerable to the slide route settling in the zone hole between the flat and the underneath linebacker Man coverage with an aggressive linebacker biting on the run fake opens up the deep out and corner route combination on the backside Blitz heavy calls with a nano blitz up front can collapse the pocket before the boot fully develops, so account for edge pressure on the rollout side and be ready to check down early

Usage Tips

Sell the play fake by holding the ball and rolling with the boot action, do not immediately turn to throw or defenders will read pass instantly

Use this on early downs like first or second and short to medium yardage where defenses expect run out of Singleback Bunch TE personnel

Check the flat defender pre snap, if he sits on the flat route hot route the slide receiver up the seam or move to the deep out immediately

Against man coverage, the slide route underneath is your quick answer if the corner route gets jammed at the bunch release

Pair this with Mtn PA Boot Over or PA Boot from the same set to keep the boot action window unpredictable and force linebackers to respect the run fake every time

PA Boot Slide

Quick Reference

In 4 playbooks

Receiver routes

Read progression

Breakdown

Defensive Reads

Usage Tips

Other Plays in Bunch TE