Playbooks

PA Slot Post

Shotgun·Duo Slot Open·20
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Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

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Breakdown

PA Slot Post is a play-action shot play out of Shotgun Duo Slot Open designed to hit a vertical seam in the middle of the field. The fake to the running back holds linebackers for a beat while the slot receiver stems inside and attacks the post, with underneath crossers and flat routes serving as outlet options if the post is capped. This is primarily a man beater against single high safety looks and Cover 3, though it can also punish zone defenses that bite on the run fake and open a throwing lane over linebackers. The primary read starts with the post route working from the safety's leverage, then progresses to the underneath crosser or flat route if the deep shot is not there.

Defensive Reads

Identify single high safety alignment pre-snap, this tells you Cover 3 or Cover 1 is likely and the post route has a clean lane to attack. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they bite hard on the play-action fake the middle of the field opens up for the post and crosser combo. Check safety rotation post-snap, if the deep safety stays home in the middle read the flat or crosser instead of forcing the post throw. Beware Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells with two safeties deep, these shut down the post route by taking away the middle of the field. Watch for user linebackers spying the middle or dropping into a lurk technique, this is the biggest threat to the post and crosser routes on this concept.

Usage Tips

Look for single high safety shells pre-snap since the post route thrives when there is only one deep defender to beat.

Sell the run fake by holding the ball and letting the play-action animation play out fully, this freezes linebackers and buys the post extra time to separate.

Hot route the flat or crosser to a different depth if you see the defense sitting on those underneath routes, this keeps the checkdown alive against zone drops.

Use this in second and medium or third and medium situations when defenses expect run or a quick RPO look from this personnel and formation.

Pair this call with RPO Alert Bubble or Inside Zone earlier in a series so the defense commits to stopping the run, then hit them with the play-action shot for a big gap in coverage.

Other Plays in Duo Slot Open