Playbooks
Likely unavailable in the playbook builder
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Drive Post is a Cover 4 beater out of Shotgun Trey Open HB Str with 11 personnel, using a three level stretch on the trips side while the backside receiver runs a deep comeback. From the bunch/trips alignment, the closest receiver runs a drive route sitting underneath, the middle receiver runs a corner route stemming outside, and the outside receiver clears vertically on a deep post that bends across the field, while the lone receiver on the backside works back to the sideline. The primary read starts with the post breaking across the middle against two high shells, then works down to the drive route sitting underneath if the post is capped by a deep safety.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check the safety depth on the trips side, since a deep half safety sitting over the numbers signals Cover 4 and tells you the post will need to split the seam. Watch the flat defender or curl to flat player, because if they widen with the drive route it opens a throwing lane for the post behind them. Post-snap, key the middle linebacker's drop, since a lurking linebacker sitting in the deep middle third can undercut the post if the quarterback holds the ball too long. Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets exposed easily since the corner route and post create natural separation against trail technique. Cover 2 shells with two deep safeties splitting the field can squeeze the post route if the quarterback does not throw with anticipation, so blitz packages that force a quick throw before the post fully develops are the biggest threat to this concept.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing two high safeties or a single high look, since the post route is your first read against Cover 4 or Cover 2 quarters shells. If you see a Cover 3 rotation with the safety cheating to the trips side, hot route the post to sit down or bang it early before the corner can undercut it. Use this play on second and medium to second and long when you expect zone matchups, since the drive route underneath gives a safe checkdown against man coverage blitzes. Pair this play with RPO Zone Peek or RPO Peek Slant earlier in a series to get the defense playing downhill, then hit them with the post shot when they bite on run action. Motion the backside receiver pre-snap if available to diagnose man versus zone before the snap, since the comeback route on the backside is a solid answer versus off man coverage.
