Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 14 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Boot Lt is a play-action rollout out of Singleback Wing 12 personnel that pulls the QB left off a fake handoff, giving him a moving pocket and three route options stretching the boundary from underneath to deep. The backside TE runs a deep crosser back to the far side of the field, the frontside TE breaks off a comeback/curl toward the sideline, and the outside WR pushes a deep corner route up the numbers while the fullback or inline blocker releases on a shallow drag underneath as the checkdown. Blocking is full slide protection to the play side to protect the rollout lane, making this a man beater that also stresses zone defenders forced to widen with the QB's run action. Primary read progression starts with the deep corner route, works down to the intermediate comeback, and checks down to the drag if both are covered.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth at the snap. If they step up hard on the run fake, the middle of the field opens for the drag route as an easy answer against overaggressive run defense. Identify the flow of the play side corner. If he sinks into a deep third immediately without respecting the run fake, the comeback route sits underneath him for an easy pitch and catch. Look for a user controlled defender spying the QB on the boot. If someone flashes down into the rollout lane, get rid of the ball to the drag or comeback quickly since the corner route takes too long to develop. Zone coverage shells with a deep half safety over the top will squeeze the corner route, so expect a contested catch situation unless the QB throws with anticipation before the safety rotates over. Man coverage with no safety help over the top on the play side is when this play is most dangerous, since the corner route wins on speed once the corner has to respect the boot action and cushion collapses.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs (1st or 2nd and medium) when defenses are keying run out of 12 personnel, since the play fake sells hardest against base fronts and linebackers stepping up.
Check the safety alignment pre-snap. If you see two high safeties bail into deep thirds or quarters, target the comeback route since the corner will be a tougher throw against a deep half defender.
If the defense shows single high safety or man coverage indicators like tight corner alignment, throw the deep corner route on the boot side since it isolates a corner in a footrace with the QB rolling toward him.
Use the drag route as your answer against blitzes. If you see extra rushers crashing off the edge, get the ball out quickly to the drag before the rollout gets contained.
Pair this play with straight dropback passes like PA Verts Y Dig or Curl Combo earlier in a series so the play fake actually holds linebackers, then hit PA Boot Lt once you have shown enough inside run or standard pass looks to keep the defense honest.
