Playbooks
HB Mtn Trail Dbl Post
Breakdown
HB Mtn Trail Dbl Post is a motion-based pass concept out of Shotgun Bunch Str Offset that sends the motion man in jet motion across the formation to release on a deep vertical up the numbers, while the bunch releases two post routes stacked at different depths (the trail post breaking underneath from the slot and the deep post clearing over the top) and the flat route sits underneath as a checkdown or man beater against trailing coverage. The double post combo attacks the seams of Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells by overloading one safety with two post breaks at different depths, and the jet motion vertical stretches the deep quarter or half defender before the ball is even snapped. Primary read starts with the deep post to see if the safety bites on the trail post, then works to the trailing post itself, and checks down to the flat route or vertical if the middle of the field is capped.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check both safeties: if they are shaded to one side of the formation over the bunch, the double post combo will have a numbers advantage on the backside post. Post-snap, watch the deep safety's first step; if he drives on the trail post immediately, the deep post behind him is open for the explosive shot. Man coverage is vulnerable here because the bunch alignment creates natural rub potential on the trail post route, so look for the trailing defender to get hung up in traffic. Cover 3 with a single high safety can be a problem for this play since one defender has to bracket two verticals in his zone, so identify single-high shells pre-snap and expect the deep post to be the priority throw. A disciplined Cover 4 quarters defense with a hard-charging flat corner can jump the underneath flat route, so if the corner squats low pre-snap, expect that flat option to be taken away and prioritize the post combo instead.
Usage Tips
Use the jet motion pre-snap to identify man versus zone: if a defender runs with the motion man across the formation it confirms man coverage and you should key the trail post for a natural pick against trailing defenders.
Against two-high safety shells, target the double post combo since both posts working the same half forces one safety to choose which post to carry, opening the other for a explosive gain.
Call this play on 2nd and medium or 3rd and long when you need a shot play, since the deep vertical from motion and dual post routes both threaten to hit chunk yardage in one snap.
Pair this play with Mtn Slot Post or Mtn Deep Post earlier in a drive so defenses start keying underneath posts, then hit this double post shot when safeties cheat down.
Hot route the flat route to a quick out if you see press man on the flat receiver, giving you a faster underneath answer versus blitz looks.
