Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Boot Y Sail (m20) is a play-action bootleg out of Singleback Wing Slot 12 personnel that rolls the quarterback away from the play call flow to create a natural throwing lane against pursuing defenders. The Y (tight end) runs the namesake sail route to the flag, working underneath a corner or deep out from the outside receiver while a shallow flat route and a backside dig or crosser fill out the concept as high low options underneath. This is a play-action pass built as both a Cover 2 beater and a Cover 3 beater, and the primary read progression starts with the sail route attacking the seam behind the cornerback and in front of the safety, then works down to the flat route if the sail is capped, with the backside dig as the last resort against zone drops.
Defensive Reads
Read the flow of the linebackers immediately after the snap, if they bite hard on the run fake this play is wide open underneath since the boot action pulls defenders out of position. Identify whether the cornerback on the sail route side is playing off man or zone, off man leaves the sail vulnerable to a double move but zone leaves a soft spot for the sail sitting behind him. Watch for a user controlled safety sitting in a robber or lurk position in the middle of the field, this is the biggest threat to the sail route and can jump the throw if the quarterback is late. Key the flat defender (corner or linebacker) to see if he widens with the flat route or stays home to squeeze the sail, his choice dictates which route is open in the high low read. Beware disguised Cover 4 or Cover 6 shells with two deep safeties rotating late, since this can take away both the sail and dig routes and force a checkdown or scramble.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs (first and ten or second and short) when you have already established the run game with 26 Duo or HB Zone Wk so the play-action fake actually holds linebackers and safeties. Check the safety alignment pre-snap, if you see two high safeties sitting deep this is a prime Cover 2 beater since the sail route settles in the void between the corner and safety. Motion or shift into the formation to bait a linebacker or safety into declaring man coverage, then hot route the flat route into a quicker option if you diagnose a blitz off the edge. Pair this with Jet PA Boot Y Leak or PA Boot TE Leak in the same drive to keep the defense guessing on your boot action tendencies. Against Cover 3 shells, trust the sail route to sit down in the flat curl zone and throw with anticipation before the flat defender can widen and undercut it.
