Playbooks
Texas Double Post
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Texas Double Post lines up out of Shotgun Doubles Offset with 11 personnel and shows two vertical stem posts from the outside receivers on the left side, both climbing hard downfield before breaking to the middle of the field. On the right side the TE runs a corner-breaking flat route while the RB releases opposite on a shallow drag/flat route underneath, giving the quarterback a built-in checkdown against pressure. This is a man beater and Cover 2 or Cover 4 beater designed to overload the deep middle with two post breakers while the underneath crossers hold linebackers and clear space, with the primary read progression starting on the double posts working from outside in before checking down to the flat or drag if the safeties squeeze the middle.
Defensive Reads
Watch for two deep safeties splitting the field evenly pre snap, that alignment signals Cover 2 or Cover 4 and tells the offense the double post window will be there if the throw is timed against the safety break. Identify single high safety looks, if the safety sits in the deep middle before the snap this concept becomes tougher since one defender can help over both posts. Track the flat defender and any user controlled underneath defender, a jumped flat route or a lurking linebacker sitting on the drag can bait a bad checkdown throw. Recognize blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge, since the RB is often used in the route concept and not staying in to block, a hot route or quick presnap slide protection adjustment may be needed against overload blitzes. If the corners are playing off and soft at the snap, expect the post to have more separation, but if corners press and trail the outside releases, the underneath drag or flat becomes the primary answer instead.
Usage Tips
Diagnose the deep safety alignment before the snap, if you see two deep safeties sitting high in the middle of the field this play is built to split them with the double post concept.
Key the flat defender and underneath linebackers, if they widen with the TE flat route it opens a throwing lane for the post breaking behind them.
Use this on second and medium or third and medium situations where defenses are more likely to sit in Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells rather than commit to man coverage.
Hot route the drag or flat route into a deeper option if you diagnose zone drops sitting shallow, this keeps the underneath route as a real answer instead of a decoy.
Pair this call with Four Verticals or PA Go Dig Post from the same set to keep defenses guessing between full vertical stretch and the two man post attack, forcing safeties to hesitate on rotation.
