Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Curl Post is a play-action pass out of Shotgun Wing Stack with 12 personnel that sells the run fake before working a crossing curl and post combo. The two receivers on the play side cross paths, one running a deep curl that sits down after crashing inbounds and the other pushing vertically before breaking into a post over the middle, while the backside runs a corner route and the play fake pulls the linebackers up. This is a play-action man beater that also stresses zone defenses by clearing out the shallow area and attacking the intermediate middle void, with the curl route acting as the primary read against zone and the post becoming the top target versus man coverage once the safety bites on the run fake.
Defensive Reads
Identify single-high safety looks before the snap since that alignment signals man or Cover 3 that the post route can exploit once the safety respects the run fake. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they step up hard on the play-action they open the intermediate middle for the post and leave the curl uncovered underneath. Key the flow of the strong side cornerback, aggressive jumps on the crossing routes create separation for the post breaking behind him. This concept struggles against two-high shells like Cover 2 or Cover 4 where the deep safeties stay home and squeeze the post route window. Watch for user-controlled defenders sitting in the curl zone or lurking the crosser, since a disciplined underneath defender can bait the quarterback into a turnover on the intermediate throw.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs in run-heavy personnel packages to maximize the play-action hold on linebackers and safeties. Check pre-snap for single-high shells since the post route behind the curl exploits Cover 1 and Cover 3 when the deep safety steps up on the fake. Progression should start with the curl sitting down in the intermediate zone, then work to the post if the safety commits to run action, and finally the corner route as a deep shot outlet. Pair this play with Inside Zone or Power O from the same formation to condition the defense into respecting the run look before dialing up PA Curl Post. Use it on second and short or first and ten to keep the defense honest and prevent linebackers from sitting in coverage.
