Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Boot out of Singleback Trey uses play action to hold the second level before the QB boots to the right on a naked rollout. The three receivers to the trips side run a vertical stack: the outside receiver takes the top off with a go route, the middle receiver runs a deep out breaking to the sideline, and the inside slot works a corner route into the vacated flat-to-deep quarter. The HB stays in to fake the run action and offers a checkdown flat route underneath as the QB rolls, giving a clear high-low read from the corner route down to the checkdown on the move.
Defensive Reads
Identify single high safety alignment pre-snap since Cover 3 and Cover 1 leave the flat and deep out vulnerable to the rollout action. Watch the flat defender post-snap, if he sits on the checkdown the deep out and corner route both open up behind him. Key the backside linebacker for spy or contain responsibility since a disciplined spy can undercut the corner route or force an early throw. Cover 2 with a hard-corner squatting the flat can jump the out route, so read the corner route as your primary answer versus two deep shells. Man coverage teams that blitz off the edge into the boot side can disrupt the fake and force a quick checkdown, so watch for overload pressure to the roll direction.
Usage Tips
Run this out of early down looks (1st and 10, 2nd and medium) so the play fake actually freezes linebackers and safeties. Check pre-snap for single high shells since the boot puts easy access on the flat and deep out against Cover 3 and Cover 1 rotation. Hot route the checkdown HB to a flat release if you see a linebacker spying the boot direction, and consider sliding protection away from the roll side to protect the naked bootleg. Pair this with HB Dive or HB Stretch from the same formation to sell the run fake first, then come back to PA Boot once the defense starts crashing downhill. Against aggressive edge pressure, get rid of the ball quickly on the deep out since the boot removes the blind side tackle from protection.
