Playbooks
PA Post Shot out of Shotgun Trey is a play-action shot play designed to attack the deep middle of the field off run action. The play fakes an inside handoff to draw linebackers and safeties up before releasing the post as the primary shot route, with underneath crossers and flat routes acting as outlet options if the post is not open. This is a man beater against single high looks and a big play tool against defenses that respect the run out of the Trey bunch look, with the deep post as the first read and the check down or drag as the second and third reads.
Pre-snap, identify single high safety alignment since that opens the post route for a big gain against Cover 1 or Cover 3 Watch linebacker depth before the snap, shallow linebackers are more likely to bite on the play fake and vacate the middle for the post Post-snap, key the deep safety's first step, if he bites on the run fake the post should come open behind him User controlled defenders sitting in a deep middle lurk or playing a robber technique can jump the post route, so be ready to check down quickly Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with two deep safeties shut this down since the post runs into help over the top, favor the underneath routes in these shells Disguised blitzes that bring extra rushers off the edge can collapse the play action pocket fast, so recognize blitz keys and be ready to get the ball out on time
Call this play on early downs, ideally first or second and short to medium, when the defense is likely to respect the run action out of Trey personnel
Look for single high safety shells like Cover 1 or Cover 3 pre-snap since the post route has the best chance to split the safety and cornerback in those shells
If the defense shows two high safeties, consider hot routing the post to a deep out or comeback to avoid throwing into the safety help
Use motion or a hard play fake read to bait the linebackers, then work through your post read before checking down to the underneath crosser or flat route
Pair this play with Inside Zone and HB Delay from the same Trey set to sell the run action first, then call PA Post Shot once the defense starts biting on run fakes
Avoid calling this on third and long since the play action fake wastes clock and the defense is less likely to respect the run