Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Fake HB Zone QB Bootlt is a play-action rollout out of Singleback Wing Tight Z that sells inside zone action before the QB rolls left off the fake. The offensive line blocks zone run steps to sell the run fake, then the QB boots outside the pocket with a moving pocket to the left, buying extra time against pass rush lanes. Read progression starts with the flat or drag route on the boot side, then works to the deep comeback or corner breaking toward the boot, and finally comes back to the backside crosser as a checkdown against overpursuit.
Defensive Reads
Identify single high versus two high safety shells before the snap, since two high alignments often signal the defense is respecting the pass and may not bite on the run fake. Watch linebacker depth and flow at the snap. If linebackers crash hard toward the run fake, the boot side flat and comeback routes should be wide open. Key the boot side cornerback leverage. Outside leverage corners invite the comeback route, while inside leverage corners open up the flat and eventually the corner route. Look for a user-controlled defender spying the QB or sitting in a lurk technique in the boot lane, since that defender can jump the flat route or force an early throw. This play struggles against zone blitzes that bring pressure from the boot side edge, since the QB loses the escape lane before routes fully develop downfield.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs, especially first and second and short to medium, when defenses are keying run based on personnel and formation tendencies.
Check safety depth before the snap. If both safeties sit at 8 to 10 yards with no run blitz indicators, the defense may be selling out to stop the boot, so be ready to check into a straight dropback pass.
Use the play fake to freeze linebackers, then attack the flat and boot side quickly against man coverage where the defense flows hard to the play fake.
Pair this with HB Inside Zone and HB Power O earlier in a drive so the defense respects the run fake and bites on linebacker flow, making the boot action more effective later.
Hot route the backside crosser into a deeper dig if you see zone defenders sitting shallow, since that adjustment creates a natural void behind underneath zone drops.
Avoid calling this against aggressive edge blitzes from the boot side, since the rollout lane can get clogged before the QB escapes.
