Playbooks
PA Double Post
Breakdown
PA Double Post is a play-action shot play out of Shotgun Wing Flex Offset with 12 personnel. The play fakes the run to hold the linebackers before the two inside receivers work vertical post routes stacked from different landmarks (one from the slot, one from the outside), while the outside receiver on the play-action side runs a deep corner or go route away from the posts, and the running back leaks out on a check release wheel to the flat as a safety valve. The lone in-line X on the backside runs a straight go route as a clear out. This is a man beater and Cover 2 beater designed to split the safeties or beat a corner who bails outside, with the primary read progression going from the outside post to the inside post, then down to the leaking back if both posts are blanketed.
Defensive Reads
Key the safeties before the snap, if they are both deep and aligned outside the numbers in Cover 2 or Cover 4, expect them to squeeze the post routes late so you have a window to jump the throw. Watch the play fake for linebacker eyes, if the linebackers bite hard on the run action it opens a throwing lane underneath for the posts and confirms user aggression on the ground game. Identify man coverage by corner press alignment, if corners are jamming at the line and safeties rotate to a single high shell, the posts have to win with leverage and speed rather than scheme separation. Beat blitz packages by using the check release back as a hot read, if the defense brings extra rushers off the edge the wheel route out of the backfield becomes the answer against overloaded fronts. This play struggles against a true Cover 3 sky or Cover 4 with a deep middle robber, since a lurking defender sitting in the seam can undercut both posts if the quarterback stares them down too long.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion or a shift to confirm whether the defense is playing zone or man before the snap, since the double post concept lives and dies on the safety shell.
If you see Cover 2 or Cover 4 with safeties sitting deep, hold the play fake a beat longer to let the posts split the safeties before throwing the first post that clears.
Against man coverage, take the outside receiver's post first since it usually has more separation off the play-action stem, then work back to the inside post if the corner sits underneath.
Pair this play with Four Verticals and Slants Y Stick from the same set so defenses cannot sit on the double post shot without getting burned by quicker route concepts.
Call this on early downs or in shot situations like 2nd and long when defenses expect run out of 12 personnel, since the play fake sells hardest when the run threat is real.
