Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Boot Lt is a play-action rollout out of the Weak I Close formation with 21 personnel that pulls the QB left off a play fake to sell run action before he sets up outside the pocket. The route concept shows a deep crosser from the yellow receiver clearing to the far sideline, a red receiver working a deep dig back across the middle from the backside, a blue back releasing to the flat as the boot's checkdown, and a white receiver running a shallow flat crossing route underneath. This is a man beater at its core, using the boot action and levels concept to create natural rub leverage and put the QB's eyes on a high low flat and dig read while he rolls away from backside pressure.
Defensive Reads
Watch for safeties rotating down into the box pre-snap, which signals man coverage or a run blitz that this boot action can exploit. If linebackers stay disciplined and do not bite on the play fake, they can rally quickly to the flat and shrink the passing window for blue's route. Key the backside defensive end and outside linebacker since contain defenders who do not chase the fake can force the QB to throw off platform or take off early. Against Cover 3 or Cover 4 zone shells, the deep yellow route can be capped by a rotating safety, so prioritize the intermediate red dig sitting in the soft spot. User controlled defenders sitting on the flat or crossing route can jump the underdneath throws, so scan the dig route working opposite the boot direction as your first answer versus a lurking defender.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or manageable third and medium situations where defenses are not expecting play action out of a run heavy Weak I look.
Check the defense pre-snap for run blitz alignment since selling the fake against an aggressive front creates huge running lanes for the boot to develop cleanly.
If the corner squats on the flat route from blue, immediately look to the red dig sitting down behind the linebackers for a chunk gain.
Pair this with HB Zone Wk and FB Dive earlier in a drive so linebackers start flowing hard on run fakes, making the boot action even more deceptive later.
Roll the QB with the ball outside the tackle box to threaten the edge with your legs if all routes are covered, since the design naturally creates a run pass option with your feet.
