Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
PA Boot is a play-action rollout out of the Weak I 21 personnel look that pulls the quarterback out of the pocket to the right side while the offensive line sells run action up front. Off the fake, the play sends two vertical routes releasing from the backside (yellow) that stretch the field deep, a deep crosser from the inline TE (red) working across the formation to the flat and up the sideline, and a shallow drag/flat route (blue) underneath as the outlet for the rollout. This is a play-action deep shot concept designed to attack single-high and man coverage by holding the linebackers with the run fake, with the primary read starting on the vertical shots and working down to the underneath drag if the pocket collapses or the deep routes are covered.
Defensive Reads
Key the safety rotation at the snap since PA Boot is vulnerable to two-high shells that can bracket the vertical routes and squeeze the sideline. Watch for a user-controlled defender sitting in the flat or shallow zone, as that defender can jump the blue drag route and turn it into a pick-six if the quarterback rolls out predictably. Diagnose man coverage versus zone by reading the flow of the linebackers, if they bite hard on the play-action fake it confirms man or aggressive run-fit coverage that this play is designed to exploit. Beware of edge blitzes and contain pressure from the play-side, since the rollout mechanic strips away protection help and a fast defensive end or outside linebacker crashing the boot can force a bad throw or sack. Zone blitzes with a spy or delayed rusher on the boot side are the primary counter, since they take away the checkdown drag route while still collapsing the pocket before the deep routes develop.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs (1st and 10 or 2nd and short) when you have already established the run from Weak I to keep linebackers honest on the fake.
Pre-snap, check for single-high safety looks or man coverage indicators since the rollout action and vertical stems are built to punish man coverage with leverage and separation.
Use the rollout to buy extra time against exotic pressure, but know your checkdown blue drag route underneath is your answer versus disguised zone blitzes or when the pocket breaks down early.
Pair this play in sequence with HB Gut or Counter F to sell the same backfield action before hitting PA Boot for a explosive play once the defense starts crashing down on run tendencies.
Use PA Boot Lt as a mirrored companion call to keep defenses from keying the rollout direction based on formation strength.
