Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Boot out of Singleback Bunch X Nasty is a play action bootleg that pulls the QB to the right edge behind a naked boot fake while the bunch releases into a three level stretch on the backside. The X receiver runs an over route across the field, the inside bunch receiver bends into a deep crossing route toward the sideline, and the nearest bunch WR runs a short out breaking away from traffic underneath. The QB reads the flat to intermediate crosser first and works to the deep over if the boot outleverages the defense, making this a man beater designed to exploit overpursuit on the run fake.
Defensive Reads
Watch the strong safety pre-snap, if he cheats toward the bunch before the snap he is likely sitting on the short out and jumping the boot flat. Key the middle linebacker's first step, aggressive downhill flow toward the fake confirms man or zone that overcommits to the run, opening the deep crosser. Identify Cover 3 cloud or Cover 4 shells since defenders sinking into deep thirds can undercut the over route if the QB holds it too long. Look for a user controlled defender spying the boot lane, that lurk defender is the primary threat to the flat and shallow drag conversion. Beware disguised blitzes from the backside since the naked boot leaves the QB exposed if the offensive line lets contain rushers loop unblocked.
Usage Tips
Check pre-snap for single high shells since the boot action combined with the deep crossing route punishes Cover 3 and Cover 1 defenses that bite on the run fake.
Hot route the flat runner to a shallow drag if you see a linebacker sitting on the boot side to remove the natural rub.
Use this on early downs after establishing inside zone or HB Dive from this same set so linebackers step up before the play action freezes them.
Roll the pocket with the right stick as the QB boots out to extend the throwing window and avoid unblocked edge rushers on user blitzes.
Pair this call with PA Boot Slide or PA Boot Corner Post later in a series so the defense cannot key the boot direction from formation tendency alone.
