Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Boot Slide is a play-action rollout concept out of Singleback Tight Y Off with 11 personnel that pulls the QB to the right on a boot action off the fake handoff. The backside receiver runs a deep corner route while the slot man crosses underneath into a shallow drag toward the rollout side, and the outside receiver to the right runs a quick slide/flat route that mirrors the QB's path along the sideline. The tight end releases from the line on a shallow drag underneath the formation, giving the QB a layered read from the flat route out to the deep corner as he rolls right, making this a play-action man beater built around horizontal stretch and levels.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing run support with linebackers stacked tight to the box, since that increases the chance of the play fake pulling defenders out of position. Key the flow of the linebackers immediately after the snap, if they bite hard on the run fake the shallow drag route will be wide open in the middle of the field. Watch the boot side cornerback and safety leverage, if they stay deep and outside the flat route and corner route become tougher to complete. This play struggles against disciplined zone defenses that keep linebackers home and against man coverage with a spy or contain defender who stays with the QB on the rollout. User-controlled defenders who jump the flat route or lurk in the shallow crossing lane can blow this up, so be ready to reset your progression to the deep corner if the underneath routes are covered.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or second and medium when the defense expects run based on formation and personnel tendencies. Read the flat route first since the QB rollout naturally leads his eyes there, then work up to the crossing drag and finally to the deep corner if a safety bites on the play fake. Watch for overaggressive linebackers flowing hard to the run fake, since that opens up the shallow drag for a big gain after the catch. Pair this with HB Dive or HB Stretch from the same set to sell the run fake convincingly before dialing this up. Against teams that spam Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells, the deep corner route can hit over the top once the flow defenders commit to the boot side.
