Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 13 playbooks
Breakdown
WR Short Post out of Shotgun Trips TE lines up three receivers to one side with the TE inline on the opposite edge. The backside X runs a deep comeback off a vertical stem while the slot behind him runs a shallow flat/pivot to hold underneath defenders. On the trips side, the inside slot works a shallow angle route into the middle while the outside trips receiver runs the namesake short post, breaking hard inside at a shallow depth to attack the void behind linebackers and in front of safeties. This is a man beater and zone beater built around the post sitting down in soft spots, with the primary read starting on the short post since it clears the fastest, then working back to the comeback if the corner sinks and cushions the post.
Defensive Reads
Identify single high safety pre-snap; this tells you the post has a clean throwing lane with no deep middle help. Watch the middle linebacker or hook zone defender at the snap; if he widens or bites on the shallow angle route, the post will be wide open behind him. Corners playing off coverage on the trips side make the short post an easy pitch and catch, while press man on the outside trips receiver can disrupt the timing of the post break. User-controlled defenders sitting in the intermediate middle zone (Tampa 2 buzz or a lurking Mike) are the biggest threat to this concept and can undercut the post if the QB stares it down too long. Blitz-heavy calls that bring extra rushers off the edge shorten the QB's clock, so know your hot read to the shallow angle route before the snap if you diagnose pressure.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, check if the defense is showing two high safeties or a single high shell, since the short post is most dangerous against single high because there is no deep help over the middle.
Use the shallow angle route from the inside slot as a built-in hot route answer versus man coverage if you see man match alignment with defenders lined up head up on the trips receivers.
This play pairs well with Verticals or PA Slot Corner from the same set because both hold the safety deep and open the intermediate post window even wider.
Call this on second and medium or third and short to medium since the post only needs a few yards of separation and the sit routes underneath give the QB a quick checkdown if the post is capped.
Against zone shells, key the middle linebacker or hook defender; if he sinks with the post throw the comeback on the backside for an easier completion.
