Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mesh Post out of Shotgun Spread 10 personnel is a classic man beater built around a crossing mesh underneath and a deep post shot from the backside. The two inside receivers run a tight mesh at the second level to rub off man defenders while the outside receiver on that side sits into a comeback, and the backside X runs a deep post that stretches the safety over the top. The lone RB releases into a check release out to the flat, giving the quarterback a layered progression from the post down to the mesh crossers and finally the flat as a shallow outlet.
Defensive Reads
Key the safety depth pre-snap, a single high safety sitting deep middle signals Cover 1 or Cover 3 which is vulnerable to the post shot over the top. Watch for a user controlled safety rotating late, this is the biggest threat to the post route and can bait the quarterback into a pick six. Read linebacker depth at the snap, if they sink hard into the mesh crossers the quarterback should look to the flat or comeback route instead. Man coverage with no safety help over the post gets exposed quickly, while Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with two deep safeties take away the post and force the ball underneath. Watch for blitz packages that send extra rushers off the edge, since the RB check release to the flat becomes the emergency valve against pressure.
Usage Tips
Use this against man coverage shells since the mesh action naturally creates traffic and rubs for cornerbacks trailing in man.
Pre-snap, identify single high looks like Cover 1 or Cover 3 before pulling the trigger on the post, since a two high safety shell can jump the route.
Hot route the flat back into a quick out or seam if you see linebackers sitting low in zone, this keeps the underneath mesh clean.
Pair this with Y Stick or Slants Middle in your play-calling sequence so the defense has to respect both the deep post shot and the quick game.
Best called on second and medium or third and long when you need a explosive gain but also have the mesh underneath as a safety valve against blitz pressure.
