Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Deep Post Out is a 5-wide empty concept out of Shotgun Empty Chips Nasty that stresses the deep middle and both sidelines at once. The two outside receivers run quick outs to the flats, the inside slot to the left runs a deep out breaking away from the corner route stacked in front of him, and on the right side you get a vertical seam bending into a deep post paired with a corner route from the tight end alignment. With no run blocking shown and five receivers releasing into routes, this is a pure dropback passing concept built to beat man and split safety zone coverages by attacking three levels vertically while the outs occupy the underneath defenders. The primary read starts with the deep post since it threatens the deepest defender first, then works down to the corner route breaking to the sideline, and finally checks down to the flat routes if the middle of the field is taken away.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and width, since two deep safeties splitting the field evenly signals Cover 2 or Cover 4, which forces you to rely on the corner route sitting down in the honey hole between levels. Watch the flat defenders at the snap, since if the corners squat hard on the outs they are likely playing zone underneath and the post or corner route behind them will be your answer. Key the middle linebacker or nickel defender for a lurk drop into the deep middle, since a sinking linebacker can undercut the post route if the quarterback holds it too long. If the defense shows man coverage with a single high safety, the post beats it clean since there is no help over the top, but if you see two safeties staying deep post-snap, abort the post read and work the corner route or flat quickly. Blitz packages that bring pressure off the edge can disrupt the timing needed for the deep post to develop, so identify overload blitzes pre-snap and be ready to use the flat routes as a quick answer.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the safeties are showing two high or rotating to one high, since the deep post only opens up big if you get a single high safety cheating toward the corner route side.
Use the flat routes as your hot route answer against Cover 2 or Cover 3 if the corner blitzes off the edge, since those routes get open fast against soft outside leverage.
Motion or shift the formation pre-snap to see if the defense declares man coverage, then lean on the post since it is your best man beater against a single high safety with no help over the top.
Pair this call with Slot Sail or Dagger from the same set to keep the defense guessing between deep in-breaking routes and out-breaking sail concepts, forcing linebackers and safeties to hesitate on their drops.
This play works best on second and long or third and long when you need a chunk gain, since the deep post and corner route combo can house a big play if the safety bites on the underneath outs.
