Editing Bootleg play (section)

==Overview==
The quarterback can be accompanied by an offensive lineman to [[blocking (American football)|block]] for him, or run without a blocker, which is known as a '''naked bootleg''' or '''waggle'''. More complex versions involve multiple offensive linemen moving with the quarterback to block and multiple false hand offs; one such variation is known as a rollout. After escaping the area behind the offensive line, the quarterback may either throw a [[forward pass|pass]] downfield or run with the ball himself to gain yardage.

A bootleg is called to confuse the defense, by moving the quarterback away from where they expect him to be, directly behind the center. The quarterback's motion may also attract the attention of the defensive backs, allowing one of the [[wide receiver|receivers]] to become uncovered. The play is typically used by teams with mobile quarterbacks, such as [[Steve Young]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Steve Young bootlegged right and he bootlegged left. He scram... |url=https://www.apnews.com/4fc2580a82cdd48ac61c01aa1ef32c79 |website=AP News |accessdate=30 July 2019}}</ref> [[Randall Cunningham]] and [[Russell Wilson]].

Additional variations can be combined with bootleg plays. In the [[West Coast offense]] variant designed around quarterback [[Michael Vick]], [[Counter run|counter]] techniques combined with play action bootleg plays served to provide several types of simultaneous misdirection which caused defensive players to ''freeze'' after often misjudging the intended direction of the play. These techniques, along with Vick's unusual athleticism, slowed down and isolated defenders and provided extra space and time for the quarterback to survey the field and/or run the ball.<ref>{{cite web |title=Back to school: Falcons add college-style option to running game |url=http://www.espn.com/espn/wire/_/section/nfl/id/2597596 |website=ESPN |accessdate=30 July 2019}}</ref>

The bootleg and its variants have become more common in recent years as the rules have been changed to permit a quarterback to avoid a sack by throwing the ball away once they are outside the "[[tackle box (American football)|tackle box]]". Since the quarterback in a bootleg usually sets up to throw well outside the tackles, if he is in danger of taking a sack, he can throw the ball safely out of bounds without risking an intentional grounding penalty.

The name comes from the fact that on a play action the quarterback often hides the ball from the defense by his thigh to make the run look more convincing. This is similar to the way [[rum-running|bootleggers]] would hide [[whiskey]] in their [[trousers]] during [[Prohibition in the United States|Prohibition]].

[[Glenn Scobey Warner|Pop Warner]] is given credit for inventing the bootleg play.<ref>Powers, Francis J. (1969) ''Life Story of Glen S. (Pop) Warner, Gridiron's Greatest Strategist''. Chicago: The Athletic Institute. p. 69</ref>