Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Post Dig out of Singleback Deuce Close 12 personnel uses play action to hold the linebackers before attacking the deep middle of the field. The backside receiver runs a vertical post to stretch the safety, while the inside receiver breaks off a yellow dig route across the middle at intermediate depth to sit in the void behind underneath zone defenders. A third receiver runs a blue shallow drag/out toward the boundary as a checkdown against blitz or man pressure. This is a play-action shot play designed to beat single-high safety looks, with the post as the first read against Cover 3 or Cover 1, and the dig as the underneath answer versus Cover 2 or off man coverage.
Defensive Reads
Read the deep safety depth and width before the snap. If he is shaded to the post side or playing two-high, the post will not be open and you should sit on the dig instead. Watch linebacker depth after the play fake. If they bite hard on the run action, the dig route will have a wide throwing lane, but if they stay disciplined in their drops the middle window closes fast. Identify man coverage by corner alignment: a tight press corner on the post receiver signals man beater potential, while a soft corner shaded inside suggests Cover 3 and a cleaner post read. Watch for a user-controlled defender sitting in the shallow drag zone or spying the running back, as this can bait a checkdown throw into a turnover.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs or second and medium when defenses are more willing to sell out on run action from 12 personnel. Check the safety alignment before the snap: single high safety means throw the post, two deep safeties means work the dig underneath. If the corner presses the post route receiver, hot route him to a slant to beat man coverage quickly. The blue drag route is your answer versus zone blitz or when the play action fake gets diagnosed, so keep it as a checkdown outlet rather than an afterthought. Pair this with PA Boot Corner Post or PA X Post Cross from the same set to keep defenses guessing between post shots and boot concepts off similar run action.
