Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Skinny Post is a play-action shot play out of Shotgun Split Offset that sells the run fake before releasing three receivers into a stretched vertical route combo. The backside receiver runs a skinny post that cuts across the deep middle, the outside receiver on the strong side climbs vertically then breaks outward on a corner-ish out, and the inside slot receiver runs a shallow drag that settles into an out at the boundary. This is primarily a man beater designed to exploit tight man coverage and single-high shells, with the skinny post as the clear first read since it attacks the seam vacated by the play-action freeze on linebackers.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single-high safety alignment since that tells you the skinny post window will be open if linebackers respect the play-action. Watch cornerback depth and technique: tight press man on the outside receiver signals the corner route will be contested, so plan to work the post instead. Post-snap, key the middle linebacker's drop: if he sits and reads the fake instead of getting depth, the skinny post throw window closes fast and you need to move off it quickly. Look for user-controlled defenders lurking in the shallow drag area, since that route is the first to get jumped by an aggressive human user playing underneath zone. Two-high shells with cover 2 or cover 4 shrink the post throwing lane, so if you see that shell pre-snap, be ready to check into the drag or corner route instead of forcing the post.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs, first and second and short to medium yardage, when the defense is likely to respect the run fake based on your personnel and tendencies.
Check the safety alignment pre-snap: if you see one deep safety, the skinny post has room to work behind linebackers who bite on the play fake.
Hot route the shallow drag receiver into a deeper crossing route if the defense shows zone with underneath defenders sitting in short areas.
Pair this play with Mtn Inside Zone or HB Power O earlier in a series so the defense keys the run look, then hit them with this shot play once linebackers start creeping up.
If the corner route receiver is doubled or blanketed by press man, come off him immediately and progress to the skinny post since the leverage is built for that throw against man coverage.
