Playbooks
Mtn Post Curls is a motion-based pass concept out of the Wide Slot Right WK set that uses pre-snap motion to help the quarterback identify man versus zone before the ball is even snapped. The route combo pairs a deep post from the boundary receiver with a pair of curl routes underneath, creating a natural high-low stress on zone defenders while the post threatens over the top against man coverage that bites on the shallow break. Primary read progression starts with the post if the motion reveals single-high or man coverage, then works down to the curls sitting in the soft spots of zone drops if the safety rotates over the top.
Pre-snap, watch how the defense reacts to the motion man, a defender trailing across the formation is your clearest man coverage tell and should trigger an immediate post read. Check the safety alignment before the snap, a single deep safety in the middle of the field signals Cover 1 or Cover 3, both of which are vulnerable to the post if you throw with anticipation. Post-snap, track the flow of the linebackers on the curl routes, if they sink hard into their zone drops without carrying a receiver vertically that confirms zone coverage and the curls become the easy conversion. Watch for user-controlled defenders sitting in a lurk or robber technique in the middle of the field, this is the biggest threat to the post route and can bait a bad throw if you do not account for it. Beware of disguised Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells that rotate late, corners with outside leverage pre-snap that sink into deep quarters coverage will take away the post and force you into the curls as your only outlet.
Use the pre-snap motion to bait linebackers and safeties into showing their hand, if the defender assigned to the motion man follows across the formation you have a strong man coverage indicator and should snap off the post read immediately.
Attack single-high shells like Cover 3 and Cover 1 by hitting the post route on time before the deep safety can rotate over, this play punishes robbers and lurk defenders who cheat too far outside.
Against two-high zone shells such as Cover 2 or Cover 4, work the curls underneath since the corners will sink into their zones and leave soft spots at the sticks for an easy conversion on third down.
Pair this play with Mtn Z In or Mtn Slot Cross in your call sheet sequence so the defense has to respect both post-breaking and in-breaking routes off the same motion look, keeping linebackers honest and slowing down their zone drops.
Best used on second and medium to third and short where the curls give you a safe conversion option, but keep the post in your pocket as a home run shot on early downs when the defense shows aggressive man coverage.