Playbooks
Breakdown
Double Post is a five man protection pass concept out of Doubles Z Close Wk in Shotgun that stacks two vertical post routes on the same side of the field. The outside receiver runs a deep post from the numbers while the inside slot receiver runs a shallower post that crosses underneath, creating a natural high low read on any single deep safety. The tight end runs a deep out that clears the flat and pulls underneath defenders, while the running back checks the backfield then releases into a shallow crossing route underneath everything as a checkdown and the fullback release is not shown running a route, giving the quarterback a clean pocket to read the double post window. This is a Cover 2 and Cover 4 beater built to attack the seams between deep safeties, with the primary read progression going outside post to inside post to the tight end out and finally down to the checkdown crosser.
Defensive Reads
Read the free safety depth at the snap, if he stays flat footed in the middle of the field he is likely keying the outside post and can jump the throw. Watch for a single high safety rotating late, which signals man coverage and turns this into a pure man beater since both posts create natural rub and separation leverage. Key the corner over the outside post, if he sinks and stays over the top in Cover 2 the throwing window shrinks and the quarterback should move to the inside post instead. Track the linebacker or nickel defender assigned to the tight end out route, since a user controlled defender jumping that route opens the field for the checkdown crosser underneath. Recognize disguised Cover 6 or Cover 3 shells presnap, since a single deep defender to the play side can rob both posts and force an immediate checkdown to the running back.
Usage Tips
Presnap identify whether the defense is showing two deep safeties or a single high shell, since this concept is built specifically to split two deep defenders with the post combo.
Against Cover 2 target the outside post first since the deep post will split the two safeties before the corner or safety can rotate over.
Against Cover 4 look to the inside post since quarter defenders have to respect the vertical stem, opening a throwing lane between the hash and the numbers.
Use the tight end out route as a built in hot route answer versus zone drops that sink under the posts, especially on third and medium.
Pair this play with Dagger Z Comeback or Dagger X Comeback in the same set to keep defenses honest, since both concepts attack similar deep zones but punish different coverage rotations.
