Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Slot Post out of Shotgun Tight Open lines up with a five man route concept: the backside X runs a deep vertical to stretch the cornerback and safety, the inside slot receiver breaks into a post working across the middle of the field, the TE runs a shallow drag underneath from the formation strength, the frontside receiver runs a deep out and up (corner post) toward the sideline, and the backside receiver climbs vertically up the numbers. This is a man beater first and foremost, using the slot post to split zone defenders and the corner route to isolate the outside cornerback on an island. Primary read progression starts with the post from inside out, then works to the corner route breaking to the sideline before checking down to the shallow drag if the middle of the field is clogged.
Defensive Reads
Read the free safety pre-snap: if he is aligned in the deep middle third, the slot post will run into coverage, so shift your first read to the corner route breaking toward the sideline instead. Watch for Cover 3 or Cover 1 with a deep middle defender sitting in the post window, since that safety can undercut or intercept the post if the quarterback forces the throw. Key the flow of the linebackers at the snap, because a delayed blitz or nano blitz can collapse the pocket before the post and corner routes fully develop downfield. Look for a user controlled defender sinking into the middle of the field or lurking near the post breakpoint, which signals the offense should peek to the corner route or dump off to the drag instead. This concept struggles against a two high shell with disciplined deep safeties, but shreds single high man coverage and Cover 0 blitzes where the post route finds the vacated middle of the field.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify if the safety is showing single high or two high shell because the slot post only has a two way go against Cover 2 or Cover 4 with the safety sitting deep in the middle of the field.
Use motion or a quick glance at the linebacker depth to confirm if you are getting man coverage, since the post route wins hardest against man to man with a clean release inside.
Hot route the shallow drag into a spot or hook route against zone heavy defenses to give yourself a sure completion underneath if the post window closes.
This play pairs well with Bench or Bench Z Spot as a play-action complement, since both attack similar horizontal stretches and can freeze linebackers before you come back to the post shot.
Best called on second and medium or third and long when you need an explosive gain, since the deep corner and post routes take time to develop and require a clean pocket.
