Playbooks
PA Boot Cheat Slide Levels
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Boot Cheat Slide Levels is a play-action bootleg out of Singleback Bunch X Nasty that pulls the QB away from the bunch to the boot side while the offensive line slides protection with him. The bunch releases two levels routes stacked underneath each other cutting across the field (the deep in and the shallow in), while the backside X runs a deep cross that clears out and gives the QB a shot option if the levels are covered underneath. The cheat motion piece adjusts spacing pre-snap, and the drag from the flat sets up an easy checkdown if the levels window is late developing. Primary read progresses from the shallow levels route in the flat, up to the deeper levels crosser, then to the backside cross if the boot side is jumped.
Defensive Reads
Read the safety alignment before the snap: two deep safeties signal Cover 2 or Cover 4, which is exactly what the levels concept is designed to exploit underneath. Watch the flow of the linebackers after the play-action fake; if they bite hard on the run fake, the levels routes will have an easy throwing lane behind them. Key the cornerback over the bunch during the cheat motion, since if he trails the motion man tightly you are facing man coverage and should expect the levels routes to separate quickly against trailing defenders. Look for a user-controlled defender sitting in the shallow flat or lurking on the drag route, since a disciplined underneath defender can jump the shorter levels route and force you to work the deeper crosser instead. Beware Cover 3 sky or match zone shells with a hard-charging edge defender on the boot side, since a contained rush can collapse the pocket on the rollout before the deep levels route has time to develop.
Usage Tips
Use the cheat motion pre-snap to identify man versus zone: if the defender follows the motion man across the formation, you are getting man coverage and the levels concept will pick on any linebacker trying to carry it.
Roll fully to the boot side with the play-action fake to sell run action and buy time for the levels routes to develop, since the pocket moves with you and the routes are designed to break open in the flat and the intermediate window on that side.
On third and medium to long, prioritize the deeper levels route since it settles right behind the linebackers, and take the shallow drag only if a defender jumps that lane.
Pair this call with PA Boot and PA Boot Corner Post in the same set to keep defenses guessing on the boot action, since all three start with identical play-action footwork but attack different zones.
Against aggressive user blitzes, hot route the backside cross to a quicker in-route or use the shallow drag as a built-in blitz beater since the boot protection slides away from backside pressure.
