Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Post Drag out of Near Close Flex 21 personnel shows a five man route concept designed to attack man and zone coverage with horizontal and vertical stretch. The outside receiver runs a deep post while the inside slot works a drag route across the field underneath, and the two backs release with a flat route to the boundary and a wheel style route up the numbers on the opposite side, giving the quarterback a full field progression. The tight end or extra receiver on the strong side runs a corner route to hold the deep defenders while the drag clears underneath, and the offensive line stays in to pass protect with no blocking help outside the box. Primary read progression starts with the post shot to the deep middle, works down to the drag if the post is covered, and checks the flat and wheel routes as outlet options against blitz or heavy underneath coverage.
Defensive Reads
Watch for single high safety alignment before the snap since this tells you the post route is live and you need to rotate help over the top or bracket it with a deep third defender. Key the middle linebacker's drop on the snap because if he sinks too deep chasing the post, the drag route will sit in a wide open throwing lane underneath. Man coverage corners who bail hard on the post are vulnerable to a double move or the drag settling in the vacated zone, so press coverage with inside help is the better answer. Blitz packages that send extra rushers off the edge can beat this play if the quarterback does not get the ball out quickly, since the protection is only five or six blockers with no extra help outside. Zone defenses with a robber or lurk defender sitting in the middle of the field can jump the drag route, so disguise your zone drop timing to bait the quarterback into that throw.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs or medium to long yardage situations where you have time to work through the full progression without getting rushed. Pre-snap, identify single high versus two high safety looks: single high safety alignment tells you the post has a bigger throwing window against man coverage, while two high shells mean you should prioritize the drag and flat combo underneath. Hot route the running back's flat route into a check release if you expect a blitz, giving your quarterback an extra blocker and a safety valve. Pair this play with Shallow Cross or Curl Flat in your play calling sequence to keep the defense guessing on underneath crossing routes, then come back to Post Drag once you see linebackers biting on shallow throws. Against aggressive user blitzers, motion the flat back pre-snap or use the wheel route as a home run shot if the defense sells out on the drag.
