Playbooks

Breakdown

PA Double Post is a play-action shot play out of Pistol Open Flex that sells the run fake before releasing two vertical post routes on the right side, with the outside receiver working a deep post from the numbers and the inner slot receiver running a shallower post that crosses underneath it, creating a natural high low stack on that half of the field. The backside receiver runs a comeback breaking back to the sideline, giving the quarterback a boundary throw option if the safety jumps the double post concept. The offensive line executes play-action run blocking to hold defensive ends and linebackers before the quarterback sets up to throw, and this concept is built as a Cover 2 and Cover 4 beater by attacking the seams between the safeties with two vertical stems at different depths. Primary read progression starts with the deep outside post attacking the safety over the top, moves to the underneath post working the void behind linebackers and in front of the deep safety, and comes back to the backside comeback as the checkdown option.

Defensive Reads

Key the safeties before the snap since Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells leave a natural crease between the deep halves or quarters that the double post is built to exploit. Watch for a single high safety rotating late, which signals Cover 3 or Cover 1 and puts a robber in the exact throwing lane both posts want to occupy. Track linebacker depth after the run fake, since linebackers who bite hard on play-action open the underneath post window, while disciplined linebackers who sit can jump the crossing post route. Look for user controlled defenders lurking in the middle of the field, as a smart user can sit on the shallow post and bait the quarterback into an interception. Recognize corner blitzes or nano pressure packages, since the play-action mesh point can be hit fast if the offensive line is outnumbered on the edge before the posts develop.

Usage Tips

Use this from play-action heavy personnel packages after you have established the run game so linebackers bite on the fake and widen the throwing lanes for both posts.

Pre-snap, identify two high safety shells like Cover 2 or Cover 4 since the double post concept is designed to split those safeties and create natural leverage advantages.

If you see a single high safety rotate to Cover 3 or Cover 1 pre-snap, be ready to check to the backside comeback quickly since the double post window shrinks against a robbed middle of the field.

Hot route the underneath post into a dig or sit route against zone heavy defenses if you notice a linebacker sinking directly into that throwing lane at the snap.

Pair this with PA Boot Rt or PA X Slant earlier in a series so the defense respects play-action tendencies, then hit them with this shot play once they start crashing down on run fakes.