Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Behind Fk Cheat Post Cross is a play-action shot play out of Shotgun Tight Y Off Wk that uses a fake behind the quarterback to hold linebackers before attacking the middle of the field with a post and a deep crosser. The motion at the snap helps identify man versus zone coverage while the cheat release gets the post threat vertical quickly against a hesitant secondary. This is primarily a man beater designed to punish aggressive safeties and linebackers biting on the run fake, with the primary read progression going post first for the explosive shot, then working down to the crossing route as the checkdown against zone drops underneath.
Defensive Reads
Key the play side safety at the snap, if he stays flat footed or bites on the fake he cannot get over the top of the post and that is your window to throw it. Watch the linebacker responsible for the crosser, in man coverage he will get picked off by traffic underneath, in zone he should sink and wall off the shallow crossing route. Identify single high shells like Cover 3 or Cover 1 before the snap, this play thrives against those shells because the post splits the seam behind the underneath defenders. Cover 2 and Cover 4 with two deep safeties are the biggest threat to this concept, since the post runs directly into a deep half defender sitting in the middle of the field. If the defense shows a blitz look with the linebacker crashing off the fake, the quarterback needs to get the ball out on rhythm to the post before the extra rusher closes the pocket.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to bait linebackers into showing man coverage before the snap, since a defender following the motion man confirms man and green lights the post route.
Call this on early downs like first or second and medium when defenses are not expecting a shot play, or on third and long when you need explosive yardage over a sitting zone.
Hot route the crosser deeper if you see two high safeties sitting soft, this stretches the zone horizontally and gives the quarterback a easier throwing lane underneath the post.
Pair this play with Fk Cheat HB Stretch and PA Fk Cheat Quick Out from the same set to keep the defense honest on the same fake, then hit the post cross once they start jumping the run fake.
Watch the boundary corner leverage before the snap, if he is playing outside shade with no help over the top the post has a clean lane to the house.
