Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Boot is a play-action rollout out of Singleback Tight Doubles with 11 personnel that pulls the quarterback outside the pocket off a fake handoff. The route concept shows a deep corner route from the boundary receiver (red), a dig that settles into a deeper crosser from the inside receiver (yellow), an out route breaking from the backside slot (yellow), a shallow flat drag from the running back (blue), and a check release flare from the fullback or attached blocker (white) staying in to protect before leaking out. The primary read progression starts with the corner route on the roll side for the shot play, then works down to the dig/crosser sitting underneath, and finally to the flat route as the checkdown against pressure.
Defensive Reads
Key the deep safety alignment before the snap. Single high safety tips man coverage or a Cover 3 shell, both of which the corner route can exploit if the CB bites on the play fake. Watch the flow of the linebackers at the snap. If they step up hard to defend the play-action fake, the crossing route and drag will find soft grass in the vacated middle. Identify Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells pre-snap. These shells put extra defenders on top of the corner route and force you to check down to the underneath crosser or flat route instead. Post-snap, track any user-controlled defender spying the quarterback rollout. A disciplined spy or contain defender can shut down the boot action and force an off-schedule throw. Look for a nano blitz or edge pressure from the roll side. Since the quarterback is exposed on the perimeter during the boot, unblocked edge rushers can disrupt the timing before the corner route develops.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or in second and short situations where defenses expect run action, since the play-action fake sells harder against aggressive run fits.
Roll to the side with the corner route when you diagnose single high safety or man coverage pre-snap, because the corner has room to work against a cornerback playing outside leverage.
If the defense shows two high safeties pre-snap, hot route the corner into a comeback or throw the dig underneath since the deep shot will be capped.
Use the crossing route as your rhythm throw against zone shells, letting it settle into open grass between the linebackers and the deep defenders.
Pair this play with HB Inside Zone or HB Dive from the same formation to keep run fits honest, then dial up PA Boot once the defense starts crashing downhill on early downs.
