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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
PA Posts is a play-action shot play out of Shotgun Doubles HB Wk that sells the run fake before releasing both outside receivers on deep post routes, with the slot receivers working underneath as safety valves against zone drops. The tight end and running back stay in to protect against the edge rush, giving the play-action fake time to freeze linebackers and hold the safeties for a split second. This is primarily a man beater designed to attack single high shells, and the primary read is the post route to the side where the safety bites hardest on the run fake, working back to the underneath crossers if the post windows close.
Defensive Reads
Look for a single high safety pre-snap, since that alignment tells you the post routes will have room to work against man coverage on the outside. If you see two safeties deep before the snap, expect a Cover 2 or Cover 4 shell that can bracket both posts, so be ready to check down to the underneath crossers instead of forcing the deep ball. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they step up hard on the run fake it confirms they are biting on the PA look, opening throwing lanes for the posts behind them. Identify user-controlled defenders sitting in the deep middle, a user lurking safety can jump the post route late, so read his positioning before committing to the throw. Beware of blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge, since the play-action fake takes time to develop and a well timed blitz can collapse the pocket before the posts break open.
Usage Tips
Check the safety alignment before the snap and pick the post route on the side with the deeper single high safety, since that safety has more ground to cover once he commits to the run fake.
Use this play on early downs, especially first and second and short to medium, when defenses are more likely to load the box or bite on run action.
Hot route the backside post into a corner or seam if you see two high safeties rotating late, since the post window shrinks quickly against a two deep shell.
Pair this with HB Delay or RPO Zone Read Bubble earlier in a drive to condition the defense to respect the run fake, then hit them with PA Posts once linebackers start creeping up.
Take a shot with this on third and long or in two minute situations when the defense sits back in soft zone, since the double post stresses the deep middle of the field.
