Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Philly Post out of Shotgun Bunch 11 personnel sends the bunch alignment into a layered route scheme designed to attack the deep middle and hole shot behind it. The outside bunch receiver runs a deep post that splits the safeties, while the two inside bunch receivers work an over route and a shallow drag underneath it, crossing the field left to right at different depths to create natural rub picks against man coverage. This is a man beater built on the post creating a two-way go against a single high safety, with the crossing routes underneath serving as the checkdown progression if the post is not open.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and spacing since a single high safety in the middle of the field is the biggest indicator this post route concept will have room to operate. Watch for user-controlled safeties creeping toward the bunch side, which signals they intend to jump the post route and rob the deep middle. Post-snap, key the middle linebacker's drop, if he sinks deep into a hole zone he can undercut the post before it develops. Cover 3 with a deep middle defender and disciplined zone drops is the toughest shell to beat here since it takes away both the post and the shallow crossers. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the easiest shell to exploit, especially if the defense blitzes and leaves the post in a one-on-one footrace.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing single high or two high safeties, since the post route needs a one-high shell to have room to work behind the linebackers.
If you see man coverage with the bunch alignment, trust the post to win against a lurking corner because the natural rub from the crossing routes underneath disrupts man technique.
Against zone shells, work the over route and shallow drag combo since the deep post can get swallowed by a deep half or deep third defender.
Use hot routes to convert the shallow drag into a quick option route if you are facing a blitz-heavy look, giving your quarterback a fast outlet.
Pair this play with Bunch Verts or PA Divide Wheels earlier in a series so the defense respects the vertical shot, then come back to Philly Post to hit the post route once safeties start cheating on shorter combos.
