Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Double Post attacks vertically with two receivers stacking post routes at different depths on the same side, one breaking in from the outside at intermediate depth and one climbing deeper from the slot, while the backside receiver runs a deep drag across the field and the TE and HB check into a flat route and a short outlet underneath. This is a man beater and Cover 2 beater because the two posts stack the safety and force him to choose which post to take away, and the drag gives a built in answer against man coverage or if the posts get squeezed. Primary read progression starts with the deep post from the slot working to the shallow post from outside, then works down to the drag and finally the underneath checkdowns if both posts are covered.
Defensive Reads
Identify single high safety alignment before the snap, since that safety has to defend both post routes and cannot be in two places at once. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they sink into deep zone drops on the double post side they can help collapse the window between the two posts. Key the safety's first two steps after the snap, if he commits hard to the deeper post the shallow post is open and if he sits the deeper post will separate. Cover 4 with two deep safeties can bracket the post routes if the corners squeeze from outside, so watch for corner and safety combo coverage on that side. User controlled defenders sitting in a deep middle lurk position can jump the inside post route, so if you see a defender flash toward that route late, be ready to check down to the drag or the underneath outlet immediately.
Usage Tips
Look for single high safety alignment pre snap since two post routes stacked on one side will overload one deep defender and create a natural window between them.
If the defense shows Cover 2 shell, target the shallow post before the safety can rotate over the top, since the double post concept is specifically built to exploit that middle of the field seam.
Against man coverage, trust the drag route on the backside as your quick answer if the corner or safety jumps the post routes, since it clears underneath and gives you a safe completion.
Use pre snap motion or hot route the HB to a check release if you need extra protection versus four man rushes, especially on third and long when you need time for the posts to develop.
Pair this play with RPO Zone Peek or RPO Peek Slant earlier in a series to get the defense reacting to quick game, then come back to Double Post to hit the safety cheating up on run support.
