Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Drive Post out of Shotgun Trips TE lines up three receivers to one side with a tight end and running back to the other. The backside X runs a deep post breaking hard toward the middle of the field while the trips side stacks a drive route underneath a shallow crosser, and the outside trips receiver pushes vertically before breaking into a deep corner-angled route to stretch the field. The running back releases into a short flat route as a check down and outlet against blitz pressure. This is a man beater at heart, using the post to attack any single high safety leverage while the drive concept creates natural rub traffic against man coverage, and the primary read starts with the post shot before working down to the drive/flat combo underneath.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and alignment, if you see a single high safety rotate hard to the post side to prevent the shot play before the ball is snapped. Watch for cornerbacks pressing at the line on the X receiver, this signals man coverage and increases the danger of the post beating outside leverage. Post-snap, user your free safety or deep middle defender to sit on the post route and force the quarterback to check the ball down to the drive or flat routes. If the offense shows this personnel and trips alignment repeatedly, anticipate the post shot on early downs and consider disguising a two high shell late to bait a bad throw. Look for the drive route crossing underneath, spy or rob that route with a linebacker in man or zone drop to eliminate the easy completion and force the quarterback into the tighter post window.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the safety shows single high or two high before the snap, since the post route is designed to split a single high safety and loses value against true two high shells.
If the corner is playing tight man on the X receiver, take the post shot immediately off the top of your drop, the rub from the drive route underneath will create natural separation.
Against zone coverage, work the drive route into the void vacated by underneath linebackers and use the running back flat route as your check down if the middle is clogged.
Use hot routes to convert the trips corner route into a deep out or comeback if you see cornerbacks sitting on the sideline to prevent explosive plays.
Pair this play with Verticals or China Y Post from the same set to keep defenses honest on the post shot, then mix in Slot Quick Flat or Curl Flat as a change of pace to punish defenders who start jumping the post route.
Best used on early downs or medium to long yardage situations where you can afford to let the post develop, since it requires time for the deep route to break open.
