Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Post Dig runs off play-action from Singleback Tight Y Off with 11 personnel, showing a hard fake to hold the linebackers before the QB works the backside of the field. The outside receiver to the play side runs a deep post from the numbers, the inline TE or slot works a dig that sits down flat across the middle behind the linebacker level, and the backside receiver runs a shallow drag away from the concept to hold underneath defenders or serve as a checkdown against pressure. This is a play-action man beater at its core, designed to punish safeties and linebackers who bite on the run fake, with the post as the primary read and the dig as the secondary window against zone drops.
Defensive Reads
Read the middle linebacker and strong safety at the snap to see if they bite on the play-action fake, since their eyes on the backfield tell you the post is going to be open behind them. Watch for a user-controlled deep safety staying home in the middle of the field, which signals the defense is sitting on the post and you should reset to the dig. Check corner alignment before the snap: a corner playing outside leverage with no safety help over the top is a green light to attack the post immediately. Look for linebackers dropping into hook zones on the dig route, since a well timed drop from a zone linebacker can undercut that throw if you hold the ball too long. Be alert for blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge, since the play-action fake slows down your protection and a fast blitz can force an early or errant throw.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or second and medium when defenses are more likely to respect the run fake and bring linebackers up. Check the safety alignment pre-snap: if you see two deep safeties sitting at depth, the post is going to be a tougher throw, so be ready to work the dig instead. If the defense shows single-high, the post has a great chance to split the safety and the corner for an explosive gain. Hot route the drag into a deeper crossing route if you are facing zone heavy defenses that flood the shallow area with linebackers. Pair this with PA Deep Cross or PA Deep Out earlier in a drive so defenders start keying the play fake and open up the post shot later in the game.
