Playbooks
Breakdown
Double Post out of Shotgun Open Flex 11 personnel sends both the slot receiver and the inline TE on vertical post routes that converge toward the middle of the field, creating a natural rub/pick combo against man coverage while stacking the deep middle against zone. The backside outside receiver runs a deep corner route to hold the safety and cornerback on that side, while the flanker to the boundary runs a flat route as a checkdown and the running back releases on a shallow drag underneath. This is a pure dropback pass concept (no play-action, no RPO) designed as a Cover 2 and Cover 4 beater, with the primary read progression going from the near post to the far post, then working down to the drag and flat if both posts are covered.
Defensive Reads
Against Cover 2, the two safeties have to choose which post to help on, so if the user jumps the near post, throw the far post behind the rotating corner. Against Cover 4 (quarters), look for the safety that widens with the corner route runner, since that opens a throwing lane on the near post before the second-level defenders can convert. Against Cover 3 or single-high shells, the middle of the field defender (deep third safety) can sit on both posts, so this play loses efficiency and you should check down to the drag or flat instead of forcing it deep. Watch for a user-controlled linebacker sitting in a lurk technique underneath the post routes, since that defender can jump the shallow crossing portion of the drag or undercut the near post route. If you see man coverage combined with a single high safety (Cover 1), the natural rub created by the two post routes crossing near the formation can spring one receiver open, but expect a blitz look since Cover 1 often comes with extra pressure.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing two deep safeties or a single high safety, since Double Post is built specifically to attack Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells by overloading the deep middle third.
If the corner route defender bails hard at the snap, that usually confirms zone coverage, so shift your eyes immediately to the two post routes stacking behind the linebackers.
Use this play on early downs or in obvious passing situations where you expect a two-high safety look, since single-high defenses can rally a robber or deep middle defender to the double post stem.
Hot route the running back into a checkdown flare if you see a blitz look, since the drag route alone will not hold up against extra pressure with no protection tag shown.
Pair this play with Deep Outs or Dagger from the same Open Flex set to keep the defense guessing between attacking the seams versus attacking the flat and sideline, forcing linebackers and safeties to declare late.
