Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Jets Deep Post out of Shotgun Trey Open sends the backside X on a deep vertical post that splits the middle of the field, while the two receivers to the trips side run a dig from the slot that sits at the sticks and an inside receiver crossing route heading toward the opposite sideline. The single back releases out of the backfield on a quick flat route to the boundary as a check down and outlet against pressure. This is a man beater built to attack single high safety looks, with the post stressing the deep middle and the crossing route creating natural rub traffic, so the primary read progression starts with the deep post against Cover 1 or Cover 3, works down to the sitting dig route versus zone drops, and ends with the flat route to the running back as the last resort.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap identify if the defense is in a single high shell such as Cover 1 or Cover 3, this is the ideal shell for the post route to work behind the linebackers and in front of the deep safety. Watch the corner assigned to the post route, if he is playing man coverage with inside leverage the post can be undercut, so look to the dig route instead. Post-snap key the middle linebacker and any user-controlled defender dropping into a deep middle zone or lurk position, since a rangy user safety sitting in the deep middle can jump the post route and create a turnover. Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells with two deep safeties are the toughest matchup for this concept since they take away the post throwing window, in those cases progress quickly to the dig route or the flat route to the back. Look for blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge, since the quick flat route to the running back becomes the answer against pressure looks that remove underneath defenders from coverage.
Usage Tips
Take a pre-snap look at the safety alignment before the snap, if you see a single high safety cheat toward the trips side you have a green light to throw the post on time. Use the flat route to the back as your hot route answer against blitz pressure since it releases quickly and gives you a safety valve when the deep options are covered. This play hits best on second and long or third and long situations where defenses tend to play deeper zone shells that open passing lanes to the post and dig. Pair Jets Deep Post with Curls or Y Stick HB Angle from the same Trey Open set so the defense has to respect both the deep shot and quick game, keeping them honest and unable to sit on one route concept. If you see the corner over the post receiver playing with outside leverage and no safety help over the top, throw the post immediately before the coverage can rotate.
