Playbooks
Quick Reference
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Breakdown
PA Boot Roll fakes the handoff then rolls the QB out to the right edge behind the play-action boot action, giving him a run/throw option on the move. Off the fake, the play sends both outside receivers vertical on go routes to stretch the deep coverage, an inside receiver breaks flat across the middle on a deep crosser toward the boot side, a TE releases into a quick out at the flat, and the backside receiver runs a short whip route underneath to hold defenders. The primary read starts with the flat route as the QB clears the boot, then progresses to the deep crosser working across the field, and finally to the go routes if the coverage bites hard on the play action. This is a play-action rollout designed to punish aggressive run defense and man coverage that loses discipline on the boot fake.
Defensive Reads
Watch for linebackers staying home instead of biting on the run fake, which signals a disciplined defense that will be sitting on the flat and crosser routes. A single high safety pre-snap often means one deep defender is responsible for both go routes, so if he cheats to the boot side, the backside go route is open. Man coverage on the flat defender that follows the TE across the field creates a natural rub for the deep crosser, so watch for a defender losing contain chasing the boot. User-controlled defenders spying the QB on the rollout will shut down the run threat, so if you see a spy flash on the edge, get the ball out on time to the flat or crosser instead of tucking it. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender jumping the route to the TE is the biggest threat to this concept, since it takes away the first read and forces a rushed throw to the crosser under pressure.
Usage Tips
Sell the play action by staying committed to the rollout instead of throwing immediately, since defenders keying the QB drop will jump routes if you rush the read.
Use this on early downs (1st and 10, 2nd and short) when the defense is showing run support or has linebackers creeping up to the line pre-snap.
If the cornerback on the flat side is playing off man or soft zone, the flat route to the TE is the fastest and safest completion as you roll out.
Check the deep safety alignment before the snap, a single high safety usually means the crosser has room to work underneath the top of the zone, while two high safeties suggest the go routes are more likely to be doubled.
Pair this with PA Boot Slide or PA Pats Boot earlier in a drive to condition the defense to bite on similar boot action, then hit the deep crosser or go route when they overplay the flat.
