Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Boot Slide is a play-action rollout concept out of Singleback Tight Y Off Flex that puts the quarterback on the move to the play side. The two outside receivers stack vertical routes with the inside man cutting a comeback while the outer receiver stems a deep post read, the TE releases into a shallow slide route underneath, and the backside X runs a drag across the field as a fast checkdown option. The RB stays in to fake the mesh point and pick up backfield blitzers, and with the quarterback rolling out the primary read progression starts with the slide route from the TE, works to the comeback sitting down in the intermediate zone, and finally clears out to the drag if the pocket collapses.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high safety looks since the deep comeback and post combo exploit Cover 3 rotation when the corner bites on the vertical stem. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they step up hard on the play-action fake the TE slide route will be running into an open throwing lane immediately. Zone defenses that flow hard with the boot direction and sit a linebacker in the shallow hole take away the slide route and force the quarterback to hold the ball longer. User-controlled defenders spying the quarterback rollout or lurking underneath the drag route are the biggest threat, since the naked boot action gives less time before the QB has to commit. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the worst matchup for the defense here, since the outside vertical and comeback combo consistently wins against tight man leverage.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs after establishing inside zone or wide zone runs so the play-action fake actually holds linebackers for a beat.
Check the flow of the linebackers pre-snap, if they are cheating toward the run action the slide route from the TE will be wide open in the vacated area.
Roll the pocket away from pressure by checking your protection or motioning the RB to the boot side, this play is vulnerable to edge pressure from the backside if the RB does not stay in.
Hot route the drag into a deeper crosser against zone shells that sit their linebackers underneath, this stretches the sideline read horizontally and gives the quarterback a layup if the slide gets taken away.
Pair this with PA Deep Out or PA Jet Sweep in the same set to keep the defense guessing between run action and rollout passing without changing your presnap look.
