Playbooks
Mtn PA X Post is a play-action shot play out of Shotgun Wide Slot Right WK designed to attack downfield after selling a run fake to the HB. The mountain motion draws linebacker and safety eyes toward the backfield, opening up the X receiver's post route as the primary read against man and single high looks, while the underneath crossers and flat routes serve as zone beater outlets if the post is capped. Blocking is play-action pass protection with the HB chipping before releasing late, so the primary progression is post first, then work back to the shorter breaking routes underneath.
Pre-snap, identify single high versus two high safety alignment, single high is the green light for the post since there is only one defender to beat over the top Watch cornerback depth and technique, off man or soft press with no safety help is where this play hits hardest Post snap, key the play side safety's reaction to the run fake, if he steps up to defend the run or crashes down on the mountain motion the post window opens immediately Beware Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells with a deep half or deep third defender sitting over the post, user controlled safeties who stay home and flash into the throwing lane will shut this down Look for blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge, since the play-action fake can hold blockers long enough to give protection issues if the offensive line is outnumbered, so check the RB release and be ready to throw off script or check down quickly
Call this on early downs or after establishing the run game so the play fake actually holds linebackers and safeties for a beat
Check the safety alignment pre-snap, if you see one deep safety cheating over top of the post route, consider hot routing the X to a dig or checking to a different play in the set like Mtn Post Curls
Use play-action shot plays like this sparingly early in a set of drives so defenders respect the run fake, then unleash it once the defense starts keying run
Pair this with Mtn RPO QB Power or Mtn RPO QB Draw earlier in the game plan to condition the defense to bite on the mesh point before hitting them with the deep post
If the CB is playing off man with no safety help over the top, trust the post and throw with anticipation before the break to avoid a jumped route
Against zone shells, look to the shallow crossers or flat route as your checkdown since the post may sit down in a soft zone window