Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Boot Slide runs a play-action fake out of Weak I with the QB booting to his right off the run fake. The backside receiver runs a deep vertical up the numbers while the near receiver runs a slide route that breaks flat and settles underneath, and the far outside route is a corner/flag pushing to the sideline off the play fake. This is a play-action rollout designed to attack zone defenses by putting a vertical stretch on the sideline with the deep route and giving the QB a quick, easy completion on the slide if the defense sucks up on the run fake. Primary read is the slide route first on the boot, then climb to the deep vertical shot if the flat defender sits low.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth at the snap. If they crash hard on the run fake, the slide route in the shallow flat is going to be wide open on the boot side. Key the flat or curl defender's reaction to the play-action. A defender who steps up run-first leaves the slide window unoccupied for an easy pitch and catch. Identify single-high versus two-high shells before the snap. Single-high (Cover 1 or Cover 3) leaves the deep vertical route as a real shot play if the corner bites on run action. Track any user-controlled defender lurking the flat or shooting the gap on the boot side, since a disciplined user defender sitting on the slide route can jump the throw and bait an interception. Respect edge pressure and contain defenders on the play-action rollout, since a fast defensive end who doesn't bite on the fake can collapse the pocket before the QB gets outside.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs, especially first and second and short, so the run fake actually holds linebackers and safeties.
Check the flat defender pre-snap. If you see a corner or safety cheating up expecting run, the slide route hits fast for an easy chunk gain.
Use the deep vertical route as your window shot against single-high safety looks (Cover 3 or Cover 1) when the corner bites on the run fake or gets caught in no man's land.
Pair this with FB Dive and HB Zone Wk earlier in a series so linebackers start keying the run fake, then hit PA Boot Slide to punish overaggressive run fits.
If you see two-high shells presnap, be ready to reset your primary read to the slide route immediately since the deep shot will likely be capped by a deep half safety.
