Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Shot Post out of I Form Slot Close uses play action to hold the linebackers before attacking downfield with a two man vertical concept. The outside receiver runs a deep post from the numbers, crossing the field toward the opposite hash, while the inside receiver from the slot runs a corner route that breaks outside up the seam after a vertical stem. This is a shot play designed to beat man coverage and single high shells, with the post as the primary read against Cover 1 or Cover 3 and the corner route working as the outlet against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells where the safety is forced to choose.
Defensive Reads
Pre snap identify whether the defense is showing single high or two high safeties, since single high Cover 1 and Cover 3 are the most vulnerable to the post route beating the deep defender over the top. Watch the slot cornerback or nickel defender at the snap, if he sinks into a zone drop instead of mirroring the corner route release, that confirms zone coverage and tells you to hold the ball for the post to clear. Key the play side linebacker depth before the snap, if he is sitting shallow expecting run he will bite on the play action fake and vacate the middle of the field for the post. Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets exposed badly by this concept, so look for man alignment indicators like tight press coverage on the outside receiver. Cover 2 shells with two deep safeties can squeeze both routes, so if you see two safeties splitting the field evenly pre snap, be ready to check to a different play or throw with anticipation before the safety rotation locks down the post.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs or in shot situations when you want to take a deep shot off play action without burning a shot play on 3rd and long. Check the safety alignment pre snap, if you see two high safeties cheating toward the corner route side, hot route the post to a dig or throw the post with anticipation before the safety can rotate over. Against man coverage look to the post first since it stresses the deep middle defender and creates a natural pick element with the corner route clearing the boundary defender. Pair this play with HB Lead Dive or HB Blast earlier in the drive to sell the run action and get the linebackers stepping up before you dial up the play action shot. Save this for situations where you have play action tendencies established so the linebackers bite on the fake and open passing lanes underneath for your outlet reads.
