The boot.

Giving Play-Action Passing 

A high-percentage play that will pay off big in the red zone

The play-action pass is arguably the best pass play in football, and you can make it even better by giving it "the boot."

Over the past two seasons, we have been getting a lot of mileage out of a bootleg pass off both our inside isolation play [ILLUSTRATION FOR DIAGRAM 1 OMITTED] and our perimeter sweep [ILLUSTRATION FOR DIAGRAM 2 OMITTED].

These two plays are part of the core running game that we seek to establish in every game. We feel that if we can get good production from running these two plays, the bootleg pass will give us a very effective play-action complement.

The following advantages make the boot an outstanding football play:

1. The boot is a great first and second down play that can attack several coverages.

2. By using pass routes that attack three different levels (deep, medium, and short), the boot can stretch the defense both vertically and horizontally. Note: To maximize its proficiency, the passing game must attack the defense both ways.

3. Multiple receivers give the QB a good option passing attack. Since the boot is not a timing play, it allows the QB to throw whenever he is ready.

4. The boot enables the offense to change the launching point in the passing game and furnishes another way to pressure the perimeter of the defense.

5. The boot is a high-percentage pass that can be great in the red zone.

While it has many strong points, the boot does have a couple of drawbacks. First, it is not a good third-and-long play, as obvious passing situations limit the benefits of play action; and second, strong pressure (outside blitz) from the playside can create problems in execution that will limit the play's effectiveness.

PROTECTION

Our basic protection scheme is to reach-block playside, with turnback protection (minus the pulling guard) on the backside [ILLUSTRATION FOR DIAGRAM 3 OMITTED]. The turnback protection involves the center, who blocks back to fill for the pulling guard, and the backside tackle, who blocks the DT/DE, depending on the defensive front.

The FB must work his way through the playside A gap, and is responsible for picking up a blitzing LB or another unaccounted defensive man in the area. Coaching point: The FB cannot run by any threats. He must block first, if needed, before releasing into his pattern.

The TB carries out a great run fake, then helps backside by blocking the first threat inside-out. Coaching point: The TB can cheat the fake only when it becomes necessary to block an immediate backside threat.

The BSG pulls out to become the QB's lead blocker to the perimeter. He must not go deeper than three yards when pulling, and he must be prepared to block any threat crossing his face (don't let anyone run through!).

He also has to recognize the technique of an outside rusher (if any), which will dictate the type of block to execute. He must kick out any rusher who has worked upfield to contain the boot. Otherwise, he must try to hook the rusher, allowing the QB to break contain.

PASS ROUTES

The pass routes in the boot are designed to attack the defense on three levels, allowing us to stretch the defense both vertically and horizontally. We will boot into both the two-receiver and one-receiver side of the formation.

Diag. 4: When running the boot to the two-receiver side, we will use the following base routes:

1. Arrow (#1 receiver playside): Vertical release to 4 yards, plant inside foot, break to outside at 45-degree angle and work upfield to depth of 12 yards; plant inside foot, break to outside and come back to sideline at 45-degree angle. Settle at 10 yards from LOS and look back for ball over outside shoulder. When cutting, cut to the sideline.

2. Flag (#2 receiver playside): Vertical release to 10 yards from LOS, plant inside foot and cut to outside using pylon in back of end zone as landmark. Look for ball over outside shoulder.

3. Drag (backside receiver): Inside release from LOS; work across field to depth of 10-12 yards, settle in open area vs zone. Do not cross opposite hash mark.

4. Flat (fullback): Release through playside A gap; get to point 5 yards from LOS, plant inside foot and break to outside, working horizontal to LOS. Be ready for the pass after passing the OT area.

Diag. 5: When running routes for the boot to the one-receiver side:

1. Post-corner (playside receiver): Vertical release to 10 yards, plant third step, plant inside foot and break outside at 45-degree angle, running to back corner of end zone. Look for ball over outside shoulder.

2. Drag (#2 receiver backside): Same technique as boot to two-receiver side.

$. Post (#1 receiver backside): Vertical release to 10 yards from LOS; plant outside foot and break inside at 45-degree angle. Use near goal post as aiming point and look for ball over inside shoulder.

4. Flat (fullback): Same.technique as the boot to two-receiver side.

QB COACHING POINTS

Obviously, the QB is a key to a bootleg pass. If he can make sound decisions when running the boot, the play becomes almost unstoppable.

Significant coaching points for the QB:

Pre-Snap Coverage Read: The QB should try to determine the coverage prior to the snap - allowing him to anticipate the receiver with the best chance of breaking open. We coach the QB to check the depth and the eyes of the defensive backs as coverage indicators.

Indicators of Cover 3: corners 7 yards or more off the wide receivers, looking at the QB; and a middle safety 10 or more yards off the LOS, looking at the QB.

Cover 2: corners 5 yards or less off the receivers with eyes on the QB, and two safeties at 10 or more yards aligned near or on the hash-marks, looking at the QB.

Cover 1 (man-free coverage): a middle safety 10 or more yards back with eyes on the QB, and corners at 7 yards or less with eyes on the receivers.

Sell the Fake. A good play-action fake is essential to maximize the effectiveness of the boot. The QB must get to the mesh point with the tailback, and carry out a great fake. He should never cheat the fake.

After the Fake. The QB should gain depth to a point 6 1/2 - 7 yards behind the LOS as he rolls out. After the fake, he should snap his head playside and read through the pulling guard to the flat defender. The guard's block will let the QB know whether to pull up or break contain.

Scanning the Receiver: The QB should check the FB in the flat first, since the flat route is usually the first route to be covered or to break open. After looking to the flat, the QB should scan the other pass routes from outside to inside. The FB and crossing routes should be favored against man coverage. Finally, the QB can tuck the ball and run if no receivers are open.

Playside Pressure (Blitz): Anytime the QB reads a playside blitz before the snap, he must audible out of the boot to our 3-step passing game.

BOOT IN THE RED ZONE

The boot has also been a good scoring threat and 2-point conversion play in our goal-line offense. As shown in Diag. 6, we can run the boot off weak-side isolation action out of our Power-I.

The FB and TB take their isolation courses, with the FB filling for the pulling guard and the TB blocking the end of the line outside the OT.

The powerback runs the flat route to the front of the end zone, while the playside TE runs a corner route to the back of the end zone.

The backside TE drags across the back of the end zone, looking for an open area.

The QB can hit one of these three receivers or can run in the event that all receivers are covered.

SUMMARY

The bootleg pass has become a fundamental part of our play-action passing game.

It gives us a great first or second down play that stretches the defense vertically and horizontally.

It gives us another way to pressure the perimeter of the defense, and provides the QB with the option of hitting one of several receivers.

Finally, the boot is a high-percentage pass that has proved successful in scoring territory.