Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Boot Slide is a play-action rollout out of Strong I Slot 21 personnel that pulls the QB out to the boot side while the offensive line executes a slide protection to seal the edge. The diagram shows three routes to the boot side: a deep crossing route from the backside receiver that clears out over the top, a slot receiver running a deep in that settles as a shallow crosser working back toward the QB, and a flat route from the running back releasing underneath toward the sideline. On the backside, a single receiver runs a vertical route to hold the safety and keep the defense honest against the run fake. The primary read progression starts with the shallow crossing route sitting down in the window, checks down to the flat route for the outlet against pressure, and looks to the backside vertical if the safety bites hard on the play fake.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a lurking linebacker sitting in the shallow crossing window, since that is the primary throw and a smart user defender will jump it. Check strong safety depth pre-snap: if he is sitting at eight yards or deeper in a two high shell, he is reading play action and can rob the crosser or flat route. Man coverage with a linebacker assigned to the running back out of the backfield is the easiest matchup to exploit since he cannot cover the flat route horizontally. Cover 3 with the flat defender sinking too deep leaves a throwing lane for the shallow crosser to settle in the void between the linebacker level and the deep zones. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge to the boot side can collapse this play fast, so identify overload pressure pre-snap and be ready to check to a quicker concept if the slide protection cannot hold up.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs like first or second and short to medium yardage so the run fake actually holds linebackers and safeties. Key the middle linebacker and strong safety pre-snap: if they crash down expecting HB Dive or HB Power O, the boot slide will hit the crosser wide open behind their run fits. Hot route the flat route running back into a quick out if you see man coverage with a linebacker trying to match up, since he cannot recover to the sideline. Pair this play with HB Dive, HB Power O, and Inside Zone Wk earlier in a drive so the play-action fake actually freezes defenders instead of getting jumped by a diagnosing user. Roll the QB fully to the boot side before throwing so you clear the pocket, then work the crosser to flat progression quickly since the backside vertical is mostly a decoy against zone shells.
