Playbooks
Breakdown
PA Cheat Deep Post Stop is a play-action shot play out of Pistol Wing Close 12 personnel that sells run action before attacking downfield with two vertical breakers and an underneath flat outlet. The diagram shows the left receiver breaking to a deep post from the outside, the right receiver running a deep comeback or corner-post, and a check release back sitting in the flat as a hot route safety valve. Against man coverage the crossing depth of the post creates natural rub leverage, while against zone the two verticals stretch the deep half and the flat route holds underneath defenders, making this a true man and zone beater depending on the shell shown. Primary read progression starts with the post, works to the boundary breaking route, and finishes with the flat outlet if both verticals are covered.
Defensive Reads
Key the strong safety pre-snap, if he is cheating down into the box to respect the run fake you have a clean throwing lane on the post. Watch for cornerback press alignment on the boundary receiver running the corner route, soft coverage there signals an easy pitch and catch on the comeback. Identify any user-controlled defender flashing to the deep middle immediately after the snap, that lurk threat is the biggest danger to the post route and should make you peek to the flat instead. Look for linebacker depth at the snap, shallow linebackers who bite on the play fake open up the post seam, while linebackers sitting deep in a Tampa 2 drop will squeeze that throwing window. This play struggles against disciplined two deep zone shells with fast linebacker flow to the flat, so if you see Cover 2 or Cover 4 with no run bite, be ready to check the ball down early rather than force the post.
Usage Tips
Take a pre-snap look at the safety alignment before the snap, two high shells tell you to work the post against the seam while single high tells you to trust the corner route on the boundary.
Use motion if available to identify man versus zone, if the defender follows across the formation you have a green light to hammer the post immediately off the play fake.
Hot route the flat back into a quick out or delay if you are facing a defense that shows heavy underneath zone drops, this keeps your check down alive against Tampa 2 shells.
Best called on second and medium to second and long or first down shot situations where the defense expects run action out of 12 personnel, the run fake off Wing Close sells hardest here.
Pair this with HB Zone or HB Stretch earlier in a drive to set up the run fake, then dial up PA Cheat Deep Post Stop once the defense starts creeping linebackers into the box.
