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Quick Reference
Not in any team playbook.
Breakdown
Drive X-Post is a trips-based dropback pass that stacks a shallow drive concept underneath a deep X post from the backside. The backside X runs a post that stretches the middle of the field, the two trips receivers run a drive combo (an under route crossing with an over route) while the outside trips receiver clears vertically up the sideline, and the HB releases into a check release flare out of the backfield after helping the line, which is shown protecting in a five man slide look. This is a Cover 4 beater built to attack the seams and hi-lo the underneath zone defenders, with the primary read starting on the X post against single-high or split safety shells before working down to the drive combo underneath.
Defensive Reads
Watch the middle of the field safety alignment before the snap, a single high safety or MOFC shell means the post has a tighter window and you need to close it fast with depth. Key the flow of the linebackers at the snap, if they sink hard to cover the drive combo underneath the post should be sitting wide open behind them. Spy or user the underneath crosser with a linebacker or nickel defender in man coverage to disrupt the rub and force the quarterback to hold the ball longer. Bring pressure off the edge opposite the trips side since the HB check release protection can be beaten with a quick outside rush, forcing an early throw before the post develops. Cover 4 quarters teams should have the playside safety widen just enough to still help on the post, this play dies against disciplined quarters players who do not overcommit to the shallow routes.
Usage Tips
Check the safety alignment before the snap, if you see two high safeties cheating outside to take away the post window it usually means Cover 4 or Cover 2 quarters, which is exactly what this play is built to punish.
Take a peek at the X post first on the snap, if the safety bites down on the drive crossers underneath you can hit the post over the top for an explosive gain.
Use the drive combo as your check down against man coverage, the crossing under and over routes create natural rubs that shake linebackers and nickel corners in man to man.
This play works best on second and medium or third and short to medium since the underneath drive routes give a safe completion while the post stays live as a home run shot.
Pair this with Four Verticals or Seam X-Comeback from the same set to keep the defense honest, if they start jumping the post window early switch to a vertical shot play to make them pay.
