Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Z Post Y Out is a route combination out of Singleback Doubles 11 personnel that attacks the middle of the field and the sideline at the same time. The Z receiver runs a deep post from the boundary, the Y (TE) releases into an out route to the flat side, and the backside receivers run a shallow drag under a comeback/curl combo while the HB checks out of the backfield into a flat route. This concept is built as both a man beater, since the post can split zone defenders and the drag clears underneath, and a zone beater versus soft coverage shells that leave the middle hook zone vacated. The primary read progression starts with the Z post as the shot play, then works down to the Y out for a quick sideline throw, and finally checks down to the HB flat route if both are covered.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check corner depth on the Z receiver, if the corner is playing off with a deep half safety shaded over, expect the post throw to be contested and look to the out route instead. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if the middle linebacker sprints to a deep hook zone the drag route underneath will be tight, but if he sits shallow the post window opens behind him. This concept struggles versus press man Cover 1 with a robber underneath, since the rat defender can sit in the throwing lane of the post and the drag has nowhere to work. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender squeezing the sideline shuts down the Y out quickly, so if you see the corner sink into the flat pre-snap, prioritize the post or drag reads instead. Post-snap, key on user controlled safeties flying to the post read, a good user defender baiting the post throw then closing late is the biggest threat to this concept, so double clutch and check the drag if that safety hesitates.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify single high versus two high safety looks because the Z post only has a true shot window against one high shells with a Cover 3 or Cover 1 rotation.
If you see two deep safeties sitting over the top, be ready to abandon the post read early and work the Y out to the flat since the throwing window against Cover 4 or Cover 2 shrinks fast.
Use hot routes to convert the drag into a deeper dig if linebackers are sinking hard into short zones, this keeps the underneath crossers alive versus zone drops.
This play pairs well in a sequence with Flanker Dig or Slot Seam, since the post shot look sets up defenders to overplay verticals, letting you come back with the shorter combo for easy yardage on the next snap.
Best called on first or second down in shot situations, or in two minute drill scenarios where the sideline out route stops the clock while the post remains a home run answer versus busted coverage.
