Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Post Swirl is a play-action pass out of Pistol Doubles Hip that dresses up run action before releasing a deep post from the backside outside receiver, a swirl route (out and up flag) from the backside slot, and a corner route from the frontside outside receiver breaking off a curl from the slot. The QB fakes the handoff, sells the boot look, then works from the deep post to the swirl in the flat area as checkdown zones open underneath. This is a play-action shot play designed to attack single high safety looks and man coverage on the backside, with the post stressing the deep middle and the swirl giving a quick answer against man beaters if the safety jumps the post.
Defensive Reads
Read the free safety pre-snap, if he is shaded away from the post route or rotates late this play has a clean deep shot. Watch for cover 3 or single high man looks, both are vulnerable to the post route splitting the safety and corner. Key the flat defender or nickel corner on the swirl route, if he sits on the flat this route gets cut off but opens a window for the post. Post snap, identify any user controlled defender lurking in the middle of the field who can undercut the post route on the break. Cover 2 shells with two deep safeties are the biggest deterrent since they can double the post and force the checkdown to the swirl route.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or second and short to sell the run fake and get defenders to bite on the play action.
Check the safety alignment before the snap, single high shells with the free safety shaded to the frontside corner route open up the backside post for an explosive gain.
If the corner squats on the post route, hot route the swirl into a deeper breaking route or throw it quickly before the flat defender can undercut it.
Pair this with Zone Fake Jet or Mtn PA Boot from the same set to keep linebackers honest on run action before hitting them with the post shot later in the drive.
Avoid calling this against heavy blitz looks unless you have a hot route ready to dump the ball to the swirl route for a quick answer.
