Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 16 playbooks
Breakdown
Cheat Flat X Post is a pass play out of Shotgun Normal Y Off Close with a pre-snap motion tag that shifts the receiver across the formation into a flat route, creating a cheat motion look to check the coverage before the snap. Off the motion the play sends one outside receiver on a deep post to attack the middle of the field, another receiver on a corner breaking route working from the opposite side, and the TE runs a short in-cut/hook route underneath while the backfield player uses a flat route to the boundary as an outlet. The primary read progression starts with the post if the safety bites on the underneath routes, then works to the corner route breaking away from the flow, and finally checks down to the flat or the TE hook against zone drops.
Defensive Reads
Watch the motion defender at the snap, if he trails the receiver across the formation it confirms man coverage and the post route should win against most linebackers or slower safeties. Check the safety alignment before the snap, single high safety alignments are vulnerable to the post route splitting the defense, while two deep safety shells force you to work the corner route into the open zone window. Post snap, key the underneath linebackers and their zone drops, if they sink hard to take away the TE hook or flat route it opens a bigger throwing lane for the post route behind them. This play is vulnerable to a hard blitz with man coverage on the outside routes, so identify if the defense is bringing extra rushers pre-snap and be ready to get the ball out quickly to the flat. Watch for a user-controlled defender lurking near the post route's landing spot, if you see a safety sitting in that area instead of playing traditional zone assignment, that indicates the defense is baiting the post and you should reset to the corner or flat route instead.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense is playing man or zone, if a defender follows the motion man across the formation you know you are getting man coverage and the post route becomes a strong option against a slower linebacker or safety in coverage.
Against zone shells with two deep safeties, target the corner route sitting down in the void between the flat defender and the deep safety, this is the zone beater portion of the concept.
This play works best on second and medium to second and long, giving you the field to let the post and corner routes fully develop downfield.
Pair this play with Cheat TE Angle or Cheat Inside Zone from the same set so the defense has to respect the motion and run action, keeping linebackers honest and opening the post route lane over the middle.
If the defense shows heavy blitz pre-snap, hot route the flat route into a quick option or check it down immediately since the post and corner routes take time to develop and you need a fast answer against extra pass rushers.
