Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Posts out of Shotgun Ace Slot lines up two receivers to each side, with both outside receivers stemming into deep post routes that cross the middle of the field high, while the two inside slot receivers run shallow crossers underneath from opposite sides. The running back stays in to protect on a five man pass block, giving the QB a clean pocket to climb into as he works his post reads. This is primarily a man beater, since the dual post concept stresses any single-high defender turning his hips late, but it also has zone beater qualities against split safety shells that vacate the middle hash. The primary read progression starts with the post to the play call side, works to the backside post if the safety rotates over, and checks down to the underneath crossers as a shorter answer.
Defensive Reads
Watch the free safety at the snap, since Posts is built to attack single high shells like Cover 1 or Cover 3 where he cannot cover both post routes. If the defense shows two deep safeties presnap, key whether they rotate down to squeeze the post routes, which signals Cover 2 or Cover 4 and should push your eyes to the underneath crossers instead. User the deep middle defender or a rangy linebacker in a lurk role to sit on the crossing routes, since that user movement can bait the QB into a turnover if he stares down one post too long. Check linebacker depth before the snap, because shallow linebackers crashing downhill on the crossers open up more space for the posts to split the safeties. Disguised blitzes that bring extra rushers off the edge can beat this play before routes develop, so timing a delayed blitz or nano blitz against the five man protection can force a quick, inaccurate throw.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing single high or two high safeties, since a lone deep safety tells you one post will be open once he commits to the other side.
Use hot routes to convert one of the underneath crossers into a shallow drag or spot route if you expect a heavy underneath zone, giving you a quick answer against Cover 2 or Cover 3.
This play shines on second and long or third and medium situations where the defense is more likely to sit back in zone coverage rather than blitz.
Pair this call with Flood or Stick from the same Ace Slot set to keep the defense guessing between vertical shots and quick horizontal stretches, since both share the same pre-snap look.
Against aggressive man coverage teams, take the shot to the post immediately off the snap rather than holding the ball, because the double post concept is designed to win early before help arrives.
