Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Boot from the Split T Tight set is a play-action rollout concept that sells the fake to the FB or HB before the QB boots to the flat side. Off the fake, the play sends a deep corner-breaking route from the backside that stems vertical before bending toward the sideline, a vertical seam or wheel route from the slot area that climbs straight up the numbers, and a flat/flag route from the boot side that stretches horizontal underneath. This is a play-action man beater that isolates the flat defender in a high low with the vertical route while also giving the QB a deep shot option if the corner bites on the run fake, with the primary read progression starting on the deep outside route, working down to the vertical crosser in the middle of the field, and finishing on the underneath flat route as the checkdown off the rollout.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing run blitz fits typical against Split T Tight, since heavy box counts often mean the linebackers will bite hard on the play-action fake. Watch the flat defender post-snap, if he sinks with the vertical route instead of stepping up to the boot side flat, the undernothe route becomes wide open for an easy pitch and catch. Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets exposed by the deep outside breaking route, look for the corner turning his hips early to run with a vertical stem before it breaks. Zone coverage shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4 can bracket the vertical seam route, so key the middle linebacker's drop, if he sits shallow the seam window opens up between the hashes. A defense that shows contain on the boot side with a spy or edge defender staying home will limit the QB's ability to extend the play, so budget the through progression quickly rather than trying to escape outside the pocket.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs like first or second and medium to keep defenses honest against your FB Dive and HB Lead run calls out of this same Split T Tight personnel.
Check the safety alignment pre-snap, if you see two high safeties sitting deep the underneath flat and vertical seam become your primary targets since the deep corner route will be capped.
Against single high looks with the safety cheating toward the boot side, take the shot on the deep outside breaking route immediately since the corner is often isolated without help.
Hot route the flat receiver into a quick out if you see the defense rolling a linebacker to spy the QB on the boot, this keeps the timing clean and gives you an easy checkdown before pressure arrives.
Sequence this play after establishing FB Dive and HB Inside from the same formation so linebackers step up on run fakes, opening the vertical seam route for a big gain.
