Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Post Spacing out of Shotgun Bunch Wide sends the bunch receiver on a vertical post to attack the deep middle while the two remaining bunch receivers run a spacing combo underneath, sitting at different depths outside the numbers. On the backside, the isolated receiver runs a shallow drag across the field, giving the quarterback a horizontal outlet if the post is capped. This is a pass play designed to beat both Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells, using the post to split deep zone defenders and the spacing routes to sit in the underneath voids. The primary read starts with the post shot into the middle of the field, then works down to the spacing routes and finally the backside drag as a checkdown.
Defensive Reads
Watch for two deep safeties splitting the field evenly before the snap, that Cover 4 shell tells you the post has a lane to work between the safeties if you can hold the underneath defenders. If you see a single high safety in Cover 3, key on whether the middle linebacker or a deep zone defender can get width to wall off the post route. User controlled defenders sitting in the deep middle lurk zone are the biggest threat to this concept, so bait them with your eyes toward the spacing routes before delivering the post. Check linebacker depth at the snap, shallow linebackers cheating up for run support open up easy access for the spacing routes underneath. Against man coverage or nano blitz pressure, get the ball out quickly to the backside drag since the deep post takes too long to develop when the pocket collapses fast.
Usage Tips
Take a pre-snap look at the safety alignment before the snap, if you see two deep safeties split evenly this post has a strong chance to split them for an explosive gain. Use this play on second and long or third and medium when you need a shot play with a built in safety valve underneath. If the corner is playing off and soft you can hot route the post receiver to press the route earlier and turn it into a quicker option against zone drops. Pair Post Spacing with Curl Flat or Spacing from this same set to keep the defense guessing between vertical shots and quick horizontal reads. Against man coverage look to the drag on the backside first since it creates natural separation against trailing defenders, then come back to the post if the safety bites on the underneath routes.
