Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Post Shot from the Weak I Close set is a play-action shot play built off a fake handoff to sell the run fit before the QB rolls back into the pocket. Off the fake, the play breaks into three vertical stems: the outside receiver runs a deep post that cuts across the middle of the field, the inside route breaks a skinny post/dig that sits underneath the corner route, and a checkdown receiver releases to the flat as a built-in safety valve. This is a shot play designed to attack single-high safety looks and man coverage, with the deep post as the clear first read and the flat route as the last resort dump-off if the shell rotates to two-high.
Defensive Reads
Read the safety depth before the snap. A single-high safety who bites on the run fake is the key indicator this play will hit for a big gain on the post. Watch for cornerbacks playing tight man coverage with no help over the top, since the post route is built specifically to win against man beaters in that scenario. Post snap, identify any user-controlled defender lurking in the middle of the field, as a rover or lurk defender sitting on the skinny post can bait the QB into a turnover. Look for two-high safety shells that stay disciplined through the play fake. This coverage caps the deep post and forces the QB down to the underneath dig or flat route. Diagnose linebacker blitz timing off the snap. If linebackers crash hard on the play-action fake instead of dropping into zone, the underneath routes open quickly and the QB should get the ball out before the pocket collapses.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or in shot-play sequences right after you have established the run game out of Weak I, since the play action freezes linebackers and safeties who are keying run fits.
Check the safety alignment before the snap. If you see a single-high safety cheating toward the box, throw the post with confidence because the play is designed to split the safety and beat man coverage over the top.
If the defense shows two-high shells post snap, work the skinny post/dig underneath since the deep post will be capped by the deep safety.
Hot route the flat receiver to a quick out or speed out against teams that blitz heavily, giving your QB an immediate answer if the play-action fake does not hold linebackers.
Pair this play with FB Dive and HB Zone Wk earlier in the drive to sell the run threat, then dial up PA Post Shot when the defense starts stacking the box.
