Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Boot Screen fakes a boot action off play-action while running a screen back to the backfield on the opposite side, shown as the red route working laterally behind the line before kicking upfield. Both outside receivers on the top of the diagram release vertically on go routes to hold the corners and safeties deep, while the slot to the boot side also climbs vertical to clear the underneath area for the screen. The offensive line shows a screen release, letting rushers up initially before working out to set up blockers in front of the screen, making this a designed man and zone beater that punishes aggressive pass rush and overplayed vertical coverage. The primary read is the screen itself off the play-action fake, with the vertical routes serving as clear-out options if the screen is covered.
Defensive Reads
Watch the defensive line pre-snap for read and spy techniques, since a disciplined edge defender who stays home can blow up the screen before blockers get set. Key the linebackers after the snap, if they bite hard on the run fake and flow away from the screen side, the play is wide open. Identify Cover 3 or man coverage shells pre-snap by checking safety depth, single high safety alignment tips zone drops that will vacate the shallow screen area. Watch for a user-controlled defender sitting in the screen lane or lurking underneath, this is the biggest defensive counter and forces you to check down to the clearing routes instead. Look for blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge, since fast penetration on the boot side can disrupt the timing of the screen before it develops.
Usage Tips
Sell the play-action fake with a full commitment on the joystick to freeze linebackers and get them flowing away from the screen side.
Use this against aggressive four man rushes or nano blitz packages that crash upfield, since the line release into screen blocking exploits defenders who do not sit and read.
Check for man coverage or Cover 3 shells pre-snap, since the deep clearing routes on both sides will pull defenders away from the shallow screen numbers.
Pair this with HB Dive and Inside Zone Split earlier in a series to get linebackers keying run fits, then hit PA Boot Screen once they start cheating up on run action.
If the defense shows a spy or sits a linebacker in the screen lane, come off this play and go to PA Deep Out or PA Boot Corner Post from the same set to attack the vacated deep areas.
