Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Post Drag out of Near Y Left Slot (21 personnel) shows a five man protection with two backs releasing outside, one running a deep clearout route to the far sideline. The slot receiver runs a drag route underneath, crossing the field from right to left while the outside receiver on the right side climbs a deep post and the far vertical receiver runs a corner or seam route up the numbers. This is a man beater built on the drag route working across the field to pull man defenders into traffic while the post and vertical routes stretch the defense deep. Primary read progression starts with the post shot down the field, then works down to the drag as the checkdown or hot route against pressure.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is in a two high shell or single high look, since single high leaves the post route vulnerable to a big gain. Watch the cornerback depth on the outside receiver running the post, a soft corner playing off coverage signals a good throwing window for the post. Post-snap, track any user controlled lurk defender sitting in the middle of the field who can jump the drag route or undercut the post. Zone coverage with linebackers dropping deep and wide will clog the drag route lanes, forcing you to trust the post or corner route instead. Watch for blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge, since the drag route becomes the quick answer against pressure when the protection breaks down.
Usage Tips
Look for single high safety shells before the snap since the post route has a clean lane to work behind linebackers and in front of the deep safety.
If you see man coverage with no safety help over the top, take the post shot immediately off the snap for a big play.
Use the drag route as your answer versus zone coverage or when the pass rush closes the pocket early, it clears space underneath the linebackers.
Pair this play with Slants or Curl Flat earlier in a series to condition defenders to sit on shorter routes, then hit the post for the explosive play.
Best called on second and medium to long distance when you want a shot play with a built in safety valve underneath.
