Playbooks

Skinny Posts

Shotgun·Doubles·11

Post Skinny Post Pass Play

Play diagram for Skinny Posts from Shotgun Doubles in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetDoubles

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 3 playbooks

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Breakdown

Skinny Posts is a two receiver route combo out of Shotgun Doubles that attacks the seams with a pair of skinny post routes from both outside receivers. Both X and Z release vertically and break into tight post angles toward the middle of the field, while the slot receivers run outlet routes underneath to the boundary as safety valves. This is a man beater designed to stress single high safeties and split zone defenders, with the primary read being the two posts working from outside in, reading the deep middle defender first before working to either post based on leverage.

Defensive Reads

Identify the safety alignment pre-snap, a single high safety in the deep middle is the primary conflict defender since he has to choose between both skinny posts. Watch for man coverage indicators like tight press alignment on the outside receivers, if defenders bail hard at the snap on skinny post angles it signals man and you should trust the post that wins early leverage. Check linebacker depth before the snap, shallow linebackers with no deep help invite a lurk defender to sit in the passing lane between the two posts, so read his drop before committing to a throw. Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells with two deep safeties shut this down since both posts run into help over the top, making the underdneath outlet routes the more viable option. Post snap, key any blitz packages or nano blitzes that collapse the pocket quickly, since the skinny posts need extra time to develop and a fast interior rush forces an early checkdown.

Usage Tips

Attack single high shells like Cover 1 and Cover 3 since the two skinny posts collapse the deep middle defender and create a natural pick if he cannot cover both.

Use pre-snap motion to identify man coverage, if the defense shifts or a defender follows your slot receiver across, expect man and lean into the post that clears away from the extra defender.

Hot route the underdneath outlet routes into quick flats or hitches against zone shells to give yourself a faster checkdown if the posts get taken away by a robber or lurking linebacker.

Best used on second and medium to second and long, or any down where you need a chunk gain, since the skinny posts take time to develop and need a clean pocket.

Pair this play with Curl Flats or Double Slants in the same set to keep defenses guessing between quick underneath concepts and the deeper post shots, forcing linebackers to respect multiple levels.