Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Hook Z Post is a five man route concept out of Shotgun Normal Y Off Wk with 11 personnel. The backside runs a deep post from the outside receiver crossing with an inside hitch/hook route, while the frontside stacks a corner route from the slot with a vertical seam release from the inline TE and a flat/angle route from the HB out of the backfield. This concept is a zone beater that attacks the middle of the field with the post while the hook route sits underneath any zone drop, and the primary read progression starts with the post, works down to the hook/curl in the flat, and checks the HB angle route as the safety valve.
Defensive Reads
Check the free safety alignment before the snap, if he is shaded to the post side the throw window closes fast Watch the corner over the post route, if he sits in a soft zone with outside leverage the post has room to work behind him Key the middle linebacker drop depth, a shallow drop suggests underneath zone coverage that clogs the hook route Beware Cover 3 looks with a hard flat defender since it can undercut both the hook and the HB angle route Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the biggest green light for the post route to hit for a explosive gain
Usage Tips
Look for single high safety shells pre snap since the post route wants to split the difference between the deep safety and the corner
If you see two deep safeties, work the hook and angle route combo underneath instead of forcing the post into coverage
Use the TE seam release as a hot read against zone blitz looks where the middle linebacker vacates
Pair this play with Double Slants or Curl Combo in your call sheet to keep defenders guessing between quick underneath throws and the deeper post shot
Best called on second and medium or third and long when you need a chunk play but still have a checkdown via the HB angle route
