Playbooks
PA Post Curls out of Shotgun Wide Slot Left sells a run fake first to freeze linebackers before working a post and curl combo on the outside receivers. This is a play-action pass built to punish teams keying the run fake, and it functions as a solid zone beater since the post stretches deep safeties while curls settle into the intermediate voids underneath. Your primary read starts with the post route to see if the deep safety bites on the play-action or opens a throwing lane behind the linebackers, then works down to the curl sitting in the void for the safer completion.
Identify single high safety looks pre-snap since this indicates man or Cover 3 and opens up the post route against a corner playing without deep help. Watch linebacker depth at the snap because shallow linebackers biting hard on the run fake create the throwing window for the post over the middle. Against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells, the post gets more difficult to complete so lean on the curl route sitting underneath the safeties in the intermediate zone. Track user controlled defenders dropping into a lurk position near the curl route since aggressive users will jump the route and bait a turnover if you force the throw. Recognize blitz packages pre-snap by checking box count, since a heavy box with extra rushers means the play-action fake may not hold and you need a quick answer on the curl or a checkdown.
Run this on early downs like first or second and medium when defenses are honoring the run to maximize the play-action freeze on linebackers.
Check the deep safety alignment pre-snap because a single high shell tells you the post has one-on-one leverage while a two high shell means you should prioritize the curl read instead.
Hot route the curl route to a flat or drag if you see man coverage across the board since curls can get squeezed by physical corners at the top of the route.
Pair this play with PA All Curl and Y Lead Read Opt Rt in the same series so the defense has to respect both the run action and multiple play-action passing concepts, keeping linebackers honest.
Use play-action rollout protection cues by checking the edge defenders pre-snap since a crashing edge can collapse the pocket before the post fully develops downfield.