Play Action Passes-Defending the Bootleg

I apologize for the return to the 60's hand drawn diagrams. Football season makes it hard to find enough time to write a post much less design the diagrams for it. I hope that the drawing do the job of illustrating my point.

Power running and pro-style offenses use play action passes to keep the defense off balance. One of the most difficult types of play-action passes to defend, is the bootleg. The bootleg puts pressure on the defense because it begins as a play that shows run action in one direction and then develops into a passing play attacking the defense the other direction. The bulk of the pressure comes from the offense forcing the defense to pursue one way and then have to quickly change direction and locate passing threats while simultaneously containing the quarterback. In this post I will explore defending the bootleg. First, I will explain the idea and concept of the bootleg. Then I will give a few examples of how to defend it out of cover 3 and quarters.

UNDERSTANDING THE BOOTLEG

To understand the bootleg, you must first understand the major reason that running teams use it.


#1 It punishes over-aggressive run play

The bootleg is an often used play, but derives it power the same way an infrequent trick play does. What are trick plays used for? For the most part it is not intended to "trick" the defense as much as it is designed to keep the D honest. For example, if the offenses is a big toss sweep team, they should have a toss pass in their game plan. This is important because it is needed to keep the corner and or safety from playing the toss too aggressively. If a toss team begins to notice that the corners and/or safety are playing the toss too aggressively, then they should run the toss pass. This is smart for two reason: First, it takes advantage of the opportunity to make a big time play. Second, it will take away the aggressiveness of the corner and/or safety, even if the ball falls incomplete. In effect the toss pass is the playbook to keep the defense honest. If the defense chooses to play the run over aggressively, then they will be punished by the bootleg pass.

#2 It utilizes 5 threats to attack the defense

The bootleg applies just like the toss pass, however defending it is more complicated then the toss pass. The toss pass involves one major threat and requires one player to defend it. On the other hand, the bootleg offers up to 6 threats. The more threats a play has, the more difficult it is to defend. This is the feature that makes the bootleg a great play. The majority of play action passes usually involve 4 threats. The bootleg usually has at least 5.


There are 5 Threats

1. Flat Route
2. Intermediate Route
3. Deep Route
4. Back Side Stretch route (post or dig)
5. Quarterback Run

* There is the 6th threat of the RB throwback, but I will not explore that option here, I classify that play as a trick play that punishes a defenses backside defenders for over pursuing.

The fifth threat is what separates the boot from other play-action passes. In normal play-action passes the QB sets up to read the defense, but in the bootleg he is rolling out away from flow and becomes a downhill running threat. If you are able to cover all the routes, you still have the threat of the quarterback run.

#3 It is simple to execute and change up

The boot is also easy for the offense to change up. They can run the same concept with the same reads, but be able to change up the routes. For example, they can run the boot strong and get the same look.


Not much has changed other then direction and the fact that TE runs a settle route. This route is still the intermediate read for the offense. The other 4 routes are present. The boot can be run from almost any formation as well.


Here the boot is happening out of double tight 1-back. Even though the TE (Y) and Z WR are running different routes (a push and post-corner), they are still attacking the flat and deep.


The boot can be extremely dangerous from overloaded formations like this. These sets force the defense to adjust on alignment and still maintain the ability to cover all 5 threats of the bootleg.

DEFENDING THE BOOTLEG

The first step in developing a sound defense for the bootleg is to develop rules and recognition points for bootleg strong and bootleg weak. These rules vary depending on the coverage called.

Cover 3 (Middle of the Field Coverage)

Rules for bootleg weak:

Play Side:

Flat defender----Gain Depth and break on the flat route
Corner-- Cover the deep route #3
Hook Defender---- Find and cover the drag#2
Free Safety------ Protect the middle field and eliminate the post#4

Back Side:

Flat Defender------ Check RB for throwback pass & get under the backside WR if he runs a dig#4
Corner---- Squeeze the Post to the FS #4
Hook Defender---- Become secondary contain on the QB. #5




The play side flat defender needs to gain depth and maintain leverage with the fullback attacking the flat. This is intended to allow the flat defender to help out on the intermediate route and be in a position to keep the flat route to a minimal gain. By gaining depth the flat defender give the QB the immediate read to throw the flat route. At times the hook defender can be sucked up on the run and have trouble getting to the drag.

Defending the strong side boot is very similar to the weak side boot.

Rules for Strong Side Boot


Play Side:

Flat defender----Gain Depth and break up on flat route #1
Corner-- Cover the deep route #3
Hook Defender---- Find and cover the settle route #2
Free Safety------ Protect the middle field and eliminate the post#4

Back Side:

Flat Defender------ Check RB for throwback pass & get under the backside WR if he runs a dig#4
Corner---- Squeeze the Post to the FS #4
Hook Defender---- Become secondary contain on the QB. #5


The difficulty with the strong side boot is the settle route. The SS is put in a bind. If he is used to help on the settle route, the full back will be open and in a position to gain a good amount because of the SS leverage. On the other hand if he jumps the flat route, the hook defender will have a difficult time jumping the settle route. The strong side boot operates similar to the "stick" concept. It is covered more effectively if the hook defender is aware of the route and sprints to it as soon as he reads strong side boot.

Quarters Coverage (Robber coverage to the passing strength)

Rules for bootleg weak:

Play Side:

Flat defender----Pick up flat route #1
Corner-- Cover the deep route #3
Hook Defender---- Find and get under the drag#2
Free Safety------ Jump on top of the drag #2

Back Side:

Flat Defender------ Check RB for throwback pass & get under the backside WR if he runs a dig#4
Corner---- Stay inside the post #4
Hook Defender---- Become secondary contain on the QB. #5



There is a trade off in this coverage versus Cover 3. Robber coverage allows the FS to play the intermidiate route aggressively, this is really the route the offense is looking to pick up a good chunk of yardage and/or first down with. By playing the FS on the intermidiate route, you can provide stronger coverage on the main two options that the QB wants to throw without relying on a linebacker that is caught in a run/pass conflict. However, the drawback is that the backside corner has to defend the post alone...... this is the most difficult route for the corner to defend. The one point of relief is that even if the post does come open, it is the last WR that the QB checks and the hardest throw to complete.

Rules for bootleg strong:

Play Side:

Flat defender----Pick up flat route #1
Corner-- Cover the deep route #3
Hook Defender---- Find and get under the Settle#2
Free Safety------ Jump on top of the Settle #2

Back Side:

Flat Defender------ Check RB for throwback pass & get under the backside WR if he runs a dig#4
Corner---- Stay inside the post #4
Hook Defender---- Become secondary contain on the QB. #5


Again the same trade off as before. Quarters coverage allows the free safety to play the intermediate route aggressively at the expense of putting the corner 1 on 1 with the post.

Final Point

In my opinion, and you can take it for what its worth. I am more concerned with covering receivers than reading the QB on play action passes. Upon recognizing bootleg, I believe it is more important for the defenders to find and cover the threats they are assigned to cover, than dropping while reading the QB. Bootlegs are executed by finding windows, it doesn't matter if the window is behind(vertical) or beside(Horizontal) defenders. By finding and getting to the threats, the defenders will do a better job of eliminating horizontal and vertical windows.

SUMMARY

The key to stopping the bootleg is quick recognition, and clearly defined rules. Rules allow the players to know which receivers to pick up, and keep completions to a minimum. Even if they do get sucked up on the play fake, they will know which receiver they are looking for as soon as soon as they recognize pass. Any play-action pass puts pressure on the defense. Teams will use it constantly to punish defenses that are over-aggressive on the run.