Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
PA Post Shot from Pistol Wing Flex is a shot play off play-action with a deep post as the primary target. The play fakes the handoff, then sends the outside receiver on a deep post (red route), a slot or TE on a deep crossing route that breaks into a corner-post shape (gold route), and a shallow crosser working underneath to the opposite sideline (yellow flat route) while another blocker stays in to protect. This is a man beater designed to hit the post behind linebackers biting on the run fake, with the deep cross serving as a zone-clearing second read and the shallow drag as a checkdown against pressure.
Defensive Reads
Watch for single high safety shells (Cover 1 or Cover 3) pre-snap, since the post route is designed to split the deep third or beat man coverage over the top. If the defense shows two deep safeties (Cover 2 or Cover 4), the post gets squeezed, so progress quickly to the deep cross or the shallow drag underneath. Track linebacker depth at the snap. Linebackers who step up hard on the play-action fake open the passing lane for the deep crosser sitting behind them. User-controlled defenders sitting in a deep middle lurk or robbing the post are the biggest threat, so double check that alignment before committing to the first read. Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets exposed by the post, but disciplined zone defenses that hold their drops can bait a risky throw into a jumped route.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or in run-heavy personnel counts (1st and 10, 2nd and short) so the play-action fake actually holds linebackers and safeties.
Key the safety depth before the snap. If you see a single high safety cheating toward the post side, check the fake and go directly to the deep crosser or shallow drag.
Use the deep crossing route as your first read against zone since it clears out underneath defenders and settles in the void vacated by the run fake.
Hot route the shallow drag receiver into a quick out if you diagnose man coverage with no safety help, giving you a rhythm throw versus a blitz.
Pair this with Mtn HB Power O and PA Power O earlier in a series so the defense respects the run fake, then dial up PA Post Shot to hit the post over aggressive linebackers.
