Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Boot Slide out of Singleback Bunch TE runs a play-action boot to the offense's right, sliding the QB's launch point outside the tackle box while the offensive line and slide protection wall off the backside. From the bunch alignment, two receivers push vertical stems on the left, one sitting down into a corner route and the other continuing up the seam, while the near receiver runs a shallow drag underneath across the formation. On the boot side, a flat route and a deep over/crosser stretch the field horizontally and vertically, giving the QB a high-low read as he rolls out. This is a play-action pass built to attack zone defenses that overcommit to run action, with the drag and flat serving as the QB's first-read outlets underneath the developing crossers.
Defensive Reads
Key the flow of the linebackers at the snap. If they bite hard on the run fake, the drag and flat routes will be wide open underneath for an easy completion. Watch the boot-side flat defender. If a user-controlled defender jumps the flat route, immediately look to the deep over route working behind him for a bigger gain. Identify single-high safety shells before the snap. Rolling to the boot side away from the single-high safety puts him in conflict between the deep corner route and the crossing over route. Beware of disciplined defensive ends or contain rushers who stay home on the boot side, since they can collapse the pocket before the deeper routes have time to develop. Against man coverage, look for natural rub or pick opportunities created by the bunch alignment, especially on the drag route crossing the field, which tends to lose man defenders in traffic.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs, especially 1st and 10 or 2nd and short, when run fake credibility is highest and defenses are more likely to bite on the play-action.
Pre-snap, check for two deep safeties or single-high looks. Against single-high, the deep corner and over route have room to work behind rolling zone defenders. Against two-high, prioritize the drag and flat since the safeties will sit on the deeper crossers.
Hot route the drag runner into a spot or hitch if you are getting quick pressure off the edge, since the boot naturally buys time but can be erased by disciplined edge defenders who stay home.
Pair this with Cross Drag and PA Boot from the same set to keep linebackers guessing between quick horizontal answers and the full boot action, forcing zone defenders to freeze on run and pass keys alike.
On 3rd and medium, use the deep over as a designed shot play if you diagnose man coverage pre-snap, since the crosser can pick up natural separation working across the field.
