Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Cheat Post Cross uses play action out of Singleback Tight Y Off with 11 personnel to hold linebackers before attacking downfield. The diagram shows the outside receiver running a deep post from the left, the TE or slot working a deep crosser from the right side that clears the middle of the field, and the HB releasing on a short check release out to the flat as the underneath safety valve. The primary read progression starts with the post for a shot play against single high or blown coverage, works to the crosser as it clears across the field against zone drops, and checks down to the HB flat route if both are covered or the pocket collapses.
Defensive Reads
Watch the deep safety alignment before the snap; if he is shaded to the crosser side, the post will have a one on one window on the opposite hash. Key the middle linebacker's drop after the play action fake; if he sits and reads the QB's eyes he can undercut the crosser, so be ready to reset to the post or HB flat. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender can jump the HB check release, so account for user controlled defenders sitting in the short flat zone. Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets exposed by the post route, especially against Cover 1 without a deep third defender rotating over. Disguised Cover 2 with a deep half safety bracket can take away the post read; if you see two deep safeties post snap, work the crosser and HB combo instead.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion to identify if the defense is playing man or zone before the snap, since the crosser is your best man beater and the post punishes single high shells.
Look for a Cover 3 or Cover 1 shell pre-snap; if the safety cheats to one side, throw the post opposite that rotation for an explosive play.
Hot route the HB to a swing or delay if you are facing heavy edge pressure so you have a faster outlet against the blitz.
Call this on early downs or in shot situations off run action tendencies, since the play action freezes linebackers who bite on inside zone or HB dive tendencies from this set.
Pair this with PA Deep Cross and PA Post Dig in the same set to keep defenses guessing between post shots and deep in cuts off identical play action mesh points.
