Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Boot TE Leak is a play-action bootleg out of Singleback Wing Slot with 12 personnel that pulls the QB away from the play side flow to a naked or semi-naked edge. The TE leaks across the formation on a deep crosser toward the sideline, the backside receiver runs a deep corner/post stem while the two underneath receivers on the boot side settle into a flat route and an out breaking route, giving the QB a high low read on that edge. Blocking shows the offensive line selling run action to hold linebackers before the QB rolls out, making this a man beater against aggressive linebacker fits and a zone beater against teams that flow hard to the run fake. Primary read progression starts with the leaking TE crossing the field, then works down to the flat route, and finally the deep out breaking route on the boot side if the crosser is not open.
Defensive Reads
Watch for linebackers stepping up hard on the play fake, if they bite you get a clean throwing lane to the leaking TE crossing the middle. Identify single high versus two high safety shells before the snap, single high defenses are more vulnerable to the deep out route on the boot side since the corner has less deep help. Key the flat defender post snap, if he sinks with the TE crosser the underneath flat route becomes open for an easy checkdown. Look for a user controlled linebacker sitting in a lurk spot in the middle of the field, this is the biggest threat to the TE leak route and can bait an interception if the QB stares it down. Beware edge blitzes or contain defenders crashing the boot side quickly, this eliminates the QB's roll lane and forces an early checkdown or a scramble read.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs like first or second and short to medium yardage so the run fake actually holds linebacker eyes and creates the boot lane.
Check the safety alignment pre-snap, if you see two high safeties sitting deep this play is a good call to attack the vacated intermediate zone with the leaking TE.
If the defense shows man coverage indicators like tight press corners and linebackers lined up over your TEs, hot route the flat defender into a quicker option to beat man leverage before the rush arrives.
Pair this play with Inside Zone Split or HB Zone Wk earlier in a series so the defense respects the run fake and bites harder on the boot action later in the drive.
Use the deep out breaking route as your answer versus teams that spy the QB or crash a linebacker on the run fake, since it clears away from the leak traffic and gives a simple sideline throw.
