Redbird Rhythm: Three Boot Concepts That Keep the Chains Moving
Illinois State has to be the surprise of the postseason regardless of level. This is a team that got hot at the right time, and looking back at their regular season, you won’t find them at the top of the FCS stats in many categories. Except one: first down offense. That efficiency has been a big part of their playoff run, and one key driver has been their use of boot concepts. Around 60 percent of their boot action has come on first down during the postseason. In this article, we’re breaking down how Illinois State is using the boot game to stay ahead of the sticks and keep defenses on their heels.
Illinois State runs a clean variation of boot off split zone here, bringing the slice player from the back side across the formation. He inserts behind the tackle in full slide, selling the slice before leaking into the flat. To the play side, they pair it with a comeback route, and run an over from the back side. The Redbirds have leaned into isolation ball all postseason, and this is another example. They get a one-on-one matchup into the boundary, and the quarterback puts it on him for a first down.
Another example.
Late in the fourth quarter, up four against UC Davis, the Redbirds went to another boot variation. This time the action came off jet sweep, with the running back leaking into the flat to the boot side. They paired it with an over route and a sail working over the top. The quarterback found the over for a clutch third down conversion to keep the drive alive and help seal the win.
One of the more interesting boot variations in the Redbirds’ arsenal is this look. They boot into a flat route, but pair it with a wheel and an over coming from the back side. On paper, it still builds out like a flood concept. In practice, it gives the defense a completely different picture and challenges zone eyes in a unique way.
On this rep we see the Redbirds hit the over.
Here, they hit the flat route.
One more time with the flat route from the opposite side.
And, the wheel route, although they don’t complete it.
Each of these boot concepts shows how Illinois State is finding ways to stay efficient on early downs without relying on traditional drop back. Whether it’s using motion, changing the flat defender’s read, or dressing up basic flood structures, the Redbirds have kept defenses guessing just enough to stay in rhythm. It’s not flashy, but it’s clean, and in playoff football, that’s enough to win and advance.