Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn PA Boot Lt is a play-action bootleg out of Singleback Wing Tight Nasty that pulls the quarterback to the left edge off run fake, giving him a moving pocket and a defined read progression. The route concept shows a deep corner/go route from the outside receiver (yellow) clearing the top of the defense, a deep crossing route (red) working from the backside all the way across the formation to give the QB a high-low read on rollout, and a wheel route (blue) from the backfield or slot climbing vertically up the sideline the QB just rolled toward. The tight end or fullback (gray) checks release into a short flat/drag route as the underneath safety valve. This is a play-action man beater designed to exploit aggressive linebackers and off man corners, with the primary read starting on the deep crosser and progressing to the wheel route as the boot develops, checking down to the flat route if both are covered.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and alignment, since a two high shell suggests zone coverage that lets you attack the flat and crosser combo, while a single high safety rolled down often means man coverage that opens up the wheel route. Watch cornerback leverage on the outside receiver running the deep corner or go route, since press or inside leverage corners are vulnerable to getting beat over the top once the QB rolls and extends the play. Post-snap, key the flow of the linebackers on the play fake, since linebackers who bite hard on the run action leave the underneath crosser and flat route wide open for an easy completion. Look for a user-controlled defender spying the QB during the bootleg, since a disciplined spy or contain defender can shut down the rollout and force a checkdown or throwaway. This play struggles against zone blitzes or Cover 3 sky looks with a flat defender sitting on the boot side, since that defender can undercut both the flat route and the shallow crosser, so be ready to climb the wheel route or reset with a pump fake to buy time.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs (1st or 2nd and medium) when you have already established the run game, since the play-action fake needs defenders biting downhill to fully sell the boot. Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing man coverage with corners playing outside leverage, since the deep crosser and wheel route both punish man defenders who cannot navigate traffic or track motion across the formation. If you see two deep safeties (Cover 2 shell), lean toward the crosser sitting down in the void, but against single high safety looks (Cover 1 or Cover 3) trust the wheel route to win vertically on a switched or trailing defender. Hot route the flat route runner to a shallow drag or spot route if you are facing a heavy blitz look, since the boot naturally protects against edge pressure from the backside but can still be exposed to overload blitzes from the frontside. Pair this play with Mtn PA Y-CoPo and PA U-Drag Wheel in the same set to keep defenses guessing between different boot and wheel concepts off similar run action, and mix in HB Inside Zone or Duo to keep the play-action fake honest.
