Playbooks
Breakdown
PA Post out of Shotgun Bunch Wide starts with a play-action fake to hold the linebackers before the QB works the backside. The bunch side runs a deep post that breaks toward the middle of the field off the vertical stem (the red route), stacked with an over route crossing underneath and a flat route working the sideline. The backside receiver runs a deep comeback going the opposite direction, giving the QB a full-field flip read against both man and zone coverage with the post as the primary shot play.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high versus two high safety alignment since the post route lives in the void created by a single deep safety. Watch cornerback depth on the bunch side, soft or off coverage corners will get beat over the top by the post breaking inside. Post-snap, key the play-side safety leverage, if he bites on the play-action fake or crashes toward the flat route, the post window opens immediately. Look for user-controlled defenders sitting in the middle of the field (robber or lurk technique), this is the primary counter that can jump the post route. Zone defenses with linebackers dropping deep into the intermediate middle will clog the post window, so check the backside comeback as your alternate answer.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or in shot-play situations when you have single high safety looks, since the post attacks the seam vacated by the safety cheating to one side.
Use the play-action fake to bait linebackers up before releasing the post, especially against defenses that show run blitz or crashing linebackers pre-snap.
If the defense shows two high safeties pre-snap, prioritize the backside comeback route instead of forcing the post into a deep half defender.
Hot route the flat route into a shallow drag if you see man coverage with no underneath help, this creates natural separation off the bunch traffic.
Pair this with Curl Flat or Slot Hook from the same set to keep the defense honest on shorter routes before hitting them with the post shot play once they start jumping underneath routes.
