Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Double Post is a bunch-based pass concept out of Shotgun Bunch Offset that isolates two vertical post routes from the bunch alignment against the flow of the flat and corner routes to the offset side. The bunch releases with an out and up on the boundary, a shallow cross underneath, and two posts stacking the middle of the field at different depths, while the offset receiver runs a deep corner route to hold the backside safety. This is a Cover 2 and Cover 4 beater designed to attack the seams between the deep safeties, and the primary read progression starts with the inside post working to the underneath post if the safeties widen to the corner route.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify two deep safeties split evenly over the middle, which signals Cover 2 or Cover 4 and tells you the post-to-post window will be open. Watch the safety leverage at the snap: if both safeties bail hard to the sideline chasing the corner route, the inside post will have a clean throwing lane. If you see a single high safety rotating late, this is likely Cover 3 or Cover 1, and the double post concept becomes risky since the deep middle is protected by one defender. Key the underneath linebackers and nickel defender on the shallow cross, since a user-controlled lurk defender sitting in that window can jump the post if the quarterback holds the ball too long. Watch for disguised blitzes off the offset side edge, since the deep post routes take time to develop and a fast four or five man rush can force an early, inaccurate throw before the posts clear the second level.
Usage Tips
Check pre-snap for two deep safeties before the snap, since this play is built to split the exact gap Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells leave between the safeties on post routes.
If the defense shows a single high safety, hot route the outside post into a corner or use it as a checkdown rather than forcing the throw into a robbed middle.
Use the corner route to the offset side as a hold route on Cover 2 corners, then come back to the deeper post if the flat defender jumps the underneath crosser.
Pair this play with Curl Flat or Spacing from the same set to keep the defense guessing between horizontal stretch concepts and this vertical post shot.
Best called on second and medium to long or on early downs when you have already established the run, since it takes time to develop and needs a clean pocket.
