Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
TE Post is a five man route concept out of Singleback Doubles 11 personnel with no play-action or blocking help beyond standard pass protection. The TE runs the namesake post from the inline slot, working from the middle of the formation across the field, while the outside receiver to that side runs a corner route that clears the top and the flat route underneath occupies the curl-flat defender. On the backside the X receiver runs a deep comeback outside the numbers and the RB releases into a shallow flat route. This is a man beater first, since the TE post is designed to split the difference between a safety and inside linebacker, but it also has zone answers if the corner route occupies a deep third and the flat route sits in a soft spot underneath. Primary read progression starts with the TE post, then works to the corner route if the safety rotates down, then checks down to the RB flat route as the outlet.
Defensive Reads
Read the free safety depth and leverage before the snap, if he is shaded to the TE side in a two high shell he can drive on the post and turn it into a turnover. Watch the middle linebacker at the snap, if he opens his hips to run with the TE on the post that is your green light to trust the throw immediately. Cover 3 with a hard corner route defender can undercut the flat but leaves the post window open in the deep middle, so key the flat defender's depth to confirm he is not sitting on the throwing lane. User controlled safeties who lurk in the middle of the field are the biggest threat to this concept, if you see a defender sitting still in the post window at the snap, check down to the RB flat route instead. Man press coverage with no safety help over the top is where this play is most vulnerable to a shutdown, since a physical corner or linebacker can reroute the TE and disrupt the timing of the post before it develops.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing single high or two deep safeties, since the TE post only has room to work if there is no safety sitting directly over the top in a Cover 2 shell.
Against man coverage, this play wins fast if you throw with anticipation to the TE post before he crosses the numbers, especially versus linebackers who cannot carry the seam.
Use the corner route as a clear out to pull the deep defender away from the post, and only look to it if you see the safety squeeze down on the TE immediately after the snap.
This play hits best on second and medium or third and medium, since it needs a full breath for the post to develop but does not require a deep shot window like a double move.
Pair this with Four Verticals or Dagger from the same set to keep the safety honest, then come back to TE Post once the defense starts cheating a linebacker underneath the seam.
