Playbooks
Double Post is a vertical man beater out of the Shotgun Wing Slot Offset WK set built around two receivers stacking post routes to overload one side of the field, with the backside running a dig or drag to hold safeties over the top. The tight ends and running back stay in as protection or run a shallow check release, giving the quarterback a clean pocket to work through the deep progression. The primary read starts with the inside post against single high safeties, and if that window is closed, work to the outside post as the safety flows to the first threat, with the backside crosser as your checkdown against zone drops or if pressure forces an early throw.
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing single high or two high safeties, since this determines which post route will have the bigger throwing window. Watch for late safety rotation after the snap, especially in Cover 3 Match or pattern match zone schemes, as a delayed rotation can jump the inside post route. Key on any user controlled safety sitting in a lurk position near the middle of the field, because that defender can undercut both post routes if the quarterback stares down the primary read too long. Against Cover 4 or Cover 6, expect the corners to sink with the post routes and the safety to help over the top, so be ready to check down to the drag or shallow route rather than force a tight window throw. Recognize blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge, since the tight ends and running back need to pick up any nano blitz look before the post routes have time to develop downfield.
Use this play on second and long or third and long situations where defenses expect a shorter zone beater and instead get burned by the double post shot play.
Check the safety alignment pre-snap. Against a single high shell (Cover 1 or Cover 3), the post combo is at its most dangerous because there is only one deep defender to cover two vertical threats.
If you see two high safeties (Cover 2 or Cover 4), hot route the outside post into a corner route to attack the boundary before the safety can rotate over, or check it down to the drag underneath.
Pair this play with Fk Slant Out or Slant Stick earlier in a drive to condition the defense to expect quick game, then hit them with Double Post off similar formation and personnel for a big play.
Against man coverage, user the underneath crosser or drag route to bait a linebacker into a rub, freeing up the post routes for your quarterback controlled receiver against a trailing corner.