Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Sail X Post is a play-action pass out of Singleback Wing Slot 12 personnel that uses the sail concept to attack the perimeter while adding a post route from the X receiver to hit the middle of the field. Off the play-action fake, the X breaks in on a post over the deep middle, an inline TE runs the corner/sail route to the flat and up the numbers, and a shallow crosser clears underneath to hold linebackers, while the backside receiver clears vertically on a go route to stretch the defense. This is a strong Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater built to stress the flat defender and the deep half safety at the same time, and the primary read progression starts with the sail route to the corner, works to the X post attacking the vacated middle, and checks down to the drag underneath.
Defensive Reads
Key the flat defender (cornerback or overhang linebacker) immediately after the snap, if he sinks with the sail route the post window opens behind him for the X. Watch the deep safety alignment pre-snap, two-high shells that roll down to defend the flat leave the post wide open, while a single high safety must choose between the sail and the post. Look for a user-controlled defender lurking underneath in the middle of the field, a smart Mike linebacker or user rat can sit in the passing lane and jump the X post route. If the defense shows Cover 3 with the corner squatting on the flat, expect the free safety to be the primary threat to the post, so a well timed throw with anticipation beats him before he can drive. This play struggles against Cover 4 or Cover 6 shells with two deep safeties who stay high, since both the sail and the post can be bracketed by a deep half defender and an underneath zone defender.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs (1st or 2nd and medium) when you have already established the run game with 26 Duo or HB Zone Wk to sell the play-action fake and freeze linebackers.
Pre-snap, identify two deep safeties for Cover 2 or a single high safety for Cover 3, both shells are prime targets for this concept since the sail stretches the flat defender and the post attacks behind him.
If the CB is playing press man on the X, hot route him into a quicker breaking post or use a release adjustment to avoid a jam that disrupts route timing.
Pair this call with PA Boot Y Sail or PA Y Cross Flood in the same drive to keep the defense guessing between boot action and traditional dropback sail concepts off similar run fakes.
Against aggressive linebackers who key run fast, trust the play-action fake to hold them a beat longer, which opens up the throwing lane for the X post over the middle.
