1. Attacking Defenses With the Boot PassAttacking Defenses With the Boot Pass
JOHN RICEJOHN RICE
HEAD COACHHEAD COACH
EISENHOWER HS,EISENHOWER HS,
RIALTO, CARIALTO, CA
From 1 Back, One TEFrom 1 Back, One TE R
BBBB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
X
YH
Z
CC
CC

2. Characteristics of the Boot Pass:
• It is a pass executed off a run fake
• After the QB fakes a handoff, he rolls opposite
the flow (ex:fake run left, roll right)
BBBB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
X Y
H
R
Z
Q
CCCC

3. Characteristics of the Boot Pass:
• It is usually designed to create a hi/lo on the
playside flat defender after the corner has been
run deep by the playside wide out
BBBB
CC
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
X Y
H
R
Z
Q
CC
Receiver
High
Receiver
Low
?
Fake

4. Characteristics of the Boot Pass:
• Usually the play is designed to place a fourth
receiver in the deep middle third to keep the
free safety from cheating to the playside
BBBB
CC
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
X Y
H
R
Z
Q
CC
Receiver
High
Receiver
Low
?
Fake
Receiver
Middle Third FF
Receiver
Deep
*There are many formations
from which to get receivers
To these spots

5. Characteristics of the Boot Pass:
• Routes are named the following:
BBBB
CC
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
X Y
H
R
Z
Q
CC
Fake
FF
Post
Over
Arrow
Go or
Deep Comeback
*There are many formations
from which to get receivers
to these spots

6. Considerations in Designing a Boot Pass
that will work for you:
1. Which successful run play will be the run action for our boot pass?
2. What defensive fronts do we anticipate seeing?
3. What formation adjustments do we need for defensive strategies?
4. Do we want to pull an offside lineman or run it “naked?”
5. Do we want the playside outside receiver to run deep or comeback?
6. Do we use motion?

7. Choose a Run Action
• Iso • Zone
BBBB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
Y
F
R
Q
BBBB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
Y
F
R
Q

8. Choose a Run Action (cont.)
• Counter • Counter
BBBB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
Y
F
R
Q
BBBB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
Y
F R
Q

9. Choose a Run Action (cont.)
• Zone from Gun • Counter from Gun
BBBB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
R
Q
BBBB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
QR F

10. Pulling Linemen or Naked?
• Pull vs. Even Front
BBBB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
Playside
Locate Contain Rusher
eyes
No Penetration!
No Penetration!
Rush Upfield
Kick Out
“Knifes” InsideLog DE Inside
Playside
EE
BBBB
TTEE
BB BB
TT
• Naked vs. Even Front
off Stretch Action
“Pin” Arrow

11. Adjustments to defensive strategies
• Vs. Cover 2
SS
BB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
X Y
H
R
Z
Q
CC
CC
FF
##
55
22
55
1010 ##
1515
1. Change “Deep” Route to “Go Pocket”
14-16
motion 2. Align or motion to trips; run vertical
route to occupy playside safety
X
3. Tighten backside receiver’s alignment to
Facilitate getting across the defensive secondary
faster

12. Adjustments to defensive strategies
• Vs. Man Free
SSBB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
X
Y
R
Z
Q
CCCC
FF
##
55
22
55
1010 ##
1515
H

13. Adjustments to defensive strategies
• Vs. Man Free
SS
BB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
X
Y
R
Z
Q
CC
CC
FF
##
55
22
55
1010 ##
1515
H
Stairstep vs. man
Wrap releases vs. man

14. Adjustments to defensive strategies
• Vs. Cover 4
SS
BB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
X Y
H
R
Z
Q
CC
CC
FF
##
55
22
55
1010 ##
1515
motion 1. Align or motion to trips; run vertical
route to occupy playside safety
X
2. Tighten backside receiver’s alignment to
Facilitate getting across the defensive secondary
faster

15. Adjustments to defensive strategies
• Vs. 2 inverted safeties
SS
BB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
Y
H
R
Z
Q
CC
CC
FF
##
55
22
55
1010 ##
1515
motion 1. Align or motion to trips; run vertical
route to occupy playside safety
X
2. Tighten backside receiver’s alignment to
Facilitate getting across the defensive secondary
faster
?

16. Using Motion
• For the outside playside “Go/Deep Comeback”
Y
Z
Y
Z
BB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
Q
CC
Motion
Pivot
Motion
BB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
Q
CC
Y
Z
BB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
Q
CC
Motion
Pivot
R
Y
Z
BB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
Q
CC
Motion
Pivot
R

17. Using Motion
• For the inside playside “Arrow”
Z
Y
Z
BB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
Q
CC
Short Motion
Pivot
Motion from Trips
BB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
Q
CC
Z
BB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
Q
CC
Motion
From Backfield
Pivot
R
Z
BB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
Q
CC
Motion
From stack
formationR
Y
Y
Y

18. Using Various Formations
• For the inside playside “Arrow”
Y
Z
Y
Z
BB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
Q
CC
From Backside Bunch From Offset I
BB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
Q
CC
Y
Z
BB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
Q
CC
Motion
From BackfieldR
Y
Z
BB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
Q
CC
From Tight End
Alignment
R
H
X
R

19. Using Motion
• For the inside backside “over” route
Motion from Trips
H
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
Q
BB
HR
Motion from Backfield
BB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
Q
H
Z
Motion from
Stack
BB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
Q
H
BB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
Q
Return Motion from Slot

20. Using Motion
• For the Outside backside “post” route
Motion from Trips
Z
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
Q
CC
Y
BB
Z
H
R
Motion from Backfield
BB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
Q
CC
H
Z
Motion from
Stack
BB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
Q
CC
Y
BB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
Q
Short Motion
CC
Y

21. Variations of the Boot Pass:
From 1 Back-Two TEFrom 1 Back-Two TE R
BBBB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
X
YH
Z
CC
CC
Motion in 1 Back-Two TEMotion in 1 Back-Two TE R
BBBB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
X
YH
Z
CC
CC

22. Variations of the Boot Pass:
From 1 Back, One TEFrom 1 Back, One TE R
BBBB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
X
YH
Z
CC
CC
From 1 Back, One TEFrom 1 Back, One TE R
BBBB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
X
Y
H
Z
CC
CC

23. Variations of the Boot
Pass:
R
From I FormationFrom I Formation F
BBBB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
X Y
Z
CC CC
R
From I FormationFrom I Formation F
BBBB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
X
Y Z
CC CC

24. Variations of
the Boot Pass:
From TripsFrom Trips R
BB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
X Y
H Z
CC CC
SSSS
R
BB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
X
Y
H
Z
CC CC
SSSS
From TripsFrom Trips

25. Variations of
the Boot Pass:
R
BB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
X
Y
H
Z
CC CC
SSSS
From Trips-Jet ActionFrom Trips-Jet Action
R
BB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
X
Y
H
Z
CC CC
SS
BB
From 4 Wide-Jet ActionFrom 4 Wide-Jet Action

26. Variations of
the Boot Pass
R
From BunchFrom Bunch
Y
BBBB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
X
Y Z
CC CC
R
From BunchFrom Bunch
Y
BBBB
TTEE
BB BB
TT EE
X
Y Z
CC CC
motion

27. JOHN RICEJOHN RICE
HEAD COACHHEAD COACH
EISENHOWER HIGH SCHOOLEISENHOWER HIGH SCHOOL
RIALTO, CARIALTO, CA
(951) 537-9902(951) 537-9902
zacoach102@aol.comzacoach102@aol.com
OWERPOINT PRESENTATION AVAILABLE FOR $5 ON COWERPOINT PRESENTATION AVAILABLE FOR $5 ON C
DVD CUTS AVAILABLE FOR $10DVD CUTS AVAILABLE FOR $10
VIDEO CUTS-DVD