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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
PA Pats Boot is a play-action bootleg out of Singleback Deuce 12 personnel that pulls the quarterback outside the pocket off a fake handoff to the HB, giving him a run pass option feel while the receivers work a flood concept to one side. The tight ends and backside receiver clear out deep and intermediate levels while the QB rolls toward the boot side, reading the flat defender first before working back to the deeper crossing route. This is a zone beater at its core, designed to punish flowing linebackers and safeties who bite on the run fake, with the primary read progression going flat to intermediate to deep comeback.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth at the snap since PA Pats Boot thrives when backers step up hard on the run fake and vacate their zone drops. Identify if the defense is playing a Tampa 2 or standard zone shell, since the middle of the field defender sinking late can jump the intermediate crosser if the QB holds it too long. Look for edge defenders staying home on the boot side instead of rushing upfield, which signals a scrape exchange or contain rush designed to shut down the rollout lane. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is where this play struggles most, since receivers are not built to separate quickly against tight man technique. Key any user-controlled defender flashing into the flat or shallow crossing route, as smart human defenders will often abandon zone assignments to jump the shorter developing routes in this concept.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs, especially first and second and short to medium, when defenses are more likely to respect the run fake and trigger downhill. Check for two high safeties pre-snap since single high defenses can rotate a safety into the boot lane and squeeze your throwing windows. Hot route the backside tight end into a shallow drag if you see man coverage across the board, since the boot action alone will not hold man defenders. Pair this with Pats HB Dive or Inside Zone Split earlier in a series so the defense keys run action from Deuce personnel, then hit them with PA Pats Boot once linebackers start crashing downhill. Avoid calling this against heavy blitz packages unless you have a quick flat throw dialed up, since the boot takes time to develop and a contained rush can force bad footwork on the throw.
