Post Route in Football: Essential Tactics for Winning Plays

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In the fast-paced and intricate world of football, every aspect of a team’s strategy is vital for its success. There are many different types of football routes. One play that holds significant importance is an offensive scheme known as the post route. Widely used, this route enables a receiver to exploit defenses and create opportunities for scoring.

The post route is characterized by an initial sprint forward, followed by a diagonal cut towards the goalpost on the field. To execute this play, a receiver must gain separation from the defender and capitalize on the open space. The agility and speed needed to effectively run a post route make it especially effective against man coverage or when the defense plays two high safeties. Thus, this versatile route serves as a crucial component of various offensive strategies, capable of outsmarting formidable defenses.

By understanding the mechanics and effectiveness of the post route, players and coaches alike are able to maximize their coordination and teamwork on the field. Its strategic use often results in exciting, game-changing moments that elevate the excitement and appeal of football as a sport.

Basics of the Post Route

Cut and Angle

The post route is a fundamental passing route in football, which involves the receiver sprinting straight down the field and making a cut at an angle towards the goal posts. This cut is typically made around 10-12 yards downfield. The receiver’s angle should be roughly 45-degrees, allowing them to attack the open space between two high safety defenses in the deep middle of the field.

Separation from Defender

In order to be effective, the receiver must create separation from the defender. This can be achieved through various techniques, such as:

  • Accelerating quickly off the line of scrimmage
  • Making a sharp cut towards the goal posts
  • Using body control and positioning to shield the defender from the ball

Creating separation allows the quarterback to target their receiver with greater ease and reduces the likelihood of an interception from the defender.

End Zone Target

The primary goal of a post route is to target the end zone, resulting in a touchdown reception. The route itself is effective against both man-to-man and zone coverage, as it can pull defenders away from the end zone and create favorable match ups for the receiver.

However, it’s crucial for the receiver to ensure they maintain an optimal route depth and maintain the proper angle during their cut. This will provide the quarterback with a clear, unimpeded line of sight, increasing their success rate in connecting with the receiver, especially in the end zone.


In the post route, communication between the quarterback and receiver is vital, as the timing and precision of the route are essential to its success. Proper execution of the post route can lead to explosive plays and scoring opportunities, helping teams put points on the board.

Key Elements of a Successful Post Route

Quarterback-Receiver Connection

In a post route, the quarterback and receiver must establish a strong connection. This includes understanding each other’s timing, anticipating the receiver’s break in the route, and placing the pass accurately. The pass should be thrown in a way that allows the receiver to maintain separation from the defense and make the catch without having to adjust their route drastically.

  • Quarterback: Accurate pass and timing
  • Receiver: Sharp route running and ability to adjust if needed

Beating the Defense

A successful post route often involves the receiver outmaneuvering the defense. This can be achieved by:

  • Accelerating quickly off the line of scrimmage
  • Making a decisive break toward the goal posts at around 10-12 yards
  • Attacking the deep middle of the field in two-high safety defenses

The post route works best against certain defensive coverage, such as single-high safety schemes (Cover 1 or Cover 3) or the open space between two-high safeties (Cover 2 or Cover 4).

Catch and Completion

Ultimately, the goal of a post route is for the receiver to catch the ball and make a big play. The following factors contribute to successful catch and completion:

  • Concentration: The receiver must keep their eyes on the ball and maintain focus, even with defenders closing in
  • Hands: The receiver should use their hands to secure the catch, keeping the ball away from their body
  • Separation: It’s crucial for the receiver to maintain separation from the defenders covering them, which can be achieved through speed and a sharp route

By ensuring the quarterback-receiver connection is solid, beating the defense with precise route running and separation, and focusing on a secure catch and completion, a post route can be a highly effective weapon in the offense’s arsenal.

Adjustments and Combinations

Option Routes

In football, option routes are designed to give receivers more flexibility during a play. These routes allow receivers to adjust their route based on the defender’s positioning or the type of coverage being played. A key aspect of running a successful option route is the communication and chemistry between the quarterback and the receiver. Understanding each other’s intentions and reacting accordingly can lead to high-percentage completions.

Some common option routes in football include:

  • Choice Route: The receiver has the option to run a slant, go, or curl route based on the defender’s positioning.
  • Curl Flat Option: The receiver can choose between running a curl route or a flat route, depending on the coverage.

Combination Routes

Combination routes are an essential part of many offensive schemes. These routes involve two or more receivers running complementary patterns designed to create confusion and exploit weaknesses in the defense. By running combination routes, offenses can force defenders to make difficult decisions and create opportunities for open receivers.

Here are a few examples of combination routes:

  • Hi-Lo Concept: This involves one receiver running an underneath route, while another receiver runs a deeper route. This combination puts pressure on the defender to choose between covering the short or deep threat.
  • Levels: This concept features routes at multiple depths on the same side of the field. One receiver runs a short route, while another runs an intermediate or deep route, forcing defenders to prioritize their coverage assignments.

In summary, adjustments and combinations play a vital role in the success of post routes and other passing concepts in football. The ability to change routes based on the defender’s positioning or the type of coverage being played makes the offense more unpredictable and harder to defend, while combination routes exploit weaknesses in the defense by forcing defenders to make challenging decisions.

Position Specifics

Wide Receivers

In football, wide receivers are primarily responsible for catching passes from the quarterback. Their involvement in a post route consists of sprinting straight down the field, and then breaking in at an angle toward the goal posts at around 10-12 yards. The post route is a useful tactic for wide receivers to get open against two-high safety defenses, as it attacks the open space between those safeties in the deep middle of the field.

Tight Ends

Tight ends play a dual role in football – as both a receiver and a blocker. When running a post route, tight ends follow a similar pattern to wide receivers: sprinting down the field and making a sharp turn at an angle toward the goal posts. Though tight ends are generally known for their blocking abilities, they can still be effective in running post routes, especially in situations where the defense is focused on the wide receivers.

Running Backs

Running backs are typically responsible for carrying the ball on running plays, but they can also be involved in passing plays as a receiver. On a post route, running backs may be utilized as a short to intermediate option for the quarterback. They will run a modified version of the post route by taking a flatter angle toward the middle of the field before making their break. This can help create mismatches against the linebacker or safety covering them while also opening space for other receivers downfield.

Defending the Post Route

Man Coverage

Defending the post route in man coverage requires the defensive back to stay close to the receiver and maintain inside leverage. This helps to take away the cut towards the goal post and disrupt the timing of the play. The defender should focus on reacting quickly to the receiver’s change of direction and try to undercut the route in order to make a play on the ball or at least contest the catch.

Zone Coverage

In zone coverage, defending the post route involves defensive backs and linebackers dropping into their assigned zones and recognizing the route progression. Communication between players is crucial as they must pass off receivers to each other when they enter different zones. When the post route is identified, the defender responsible for the deep middle zone should focus on preventing the completion by staying underneath the pass and forcing the quarterback to throw an accurate over-the-shoulder pass. Meanwhile, the other defenders can help bracket the route, squeezing the space available for the throw and enhancing the likelihood of an incomplete pas or interception.

Safety Positioning

Safeties play a crucial role in defending the post route, primarily through positioning and anticipation. Single high safeties need to recognize the route and quickly move towards the middle of the field to provide help over the top, while staying deep enough to prevent getting beaten for a touchdown. Two high safeties should work together to bracket the post route, with one safety staying underneath and the other helping over the top.

In summary, defending the post route in football requires a combination of man and zone coverage, safety positioning, and effective communication among defensive players. By understanding their responsibilities and working together as a unit, defenders can successfully disrupt this deep passing threat.

Executing the Post Route in Different Game Situations

The post route in football is a versatile play that can be utilized by the offense in various game situations. In this section, we’ll discuss how the post route can be run effectively according to different defensive coverages and offensive strategies.

When facing man coverage, running a post route is particularly effective if the defender guarding the receiver has backed off, providing the receiver with ample running room. In this situation, the receiver’s goal is to create separation from their opponent, allowing the quarterback to deliver a deep pass for potential yards after the catch.

Against zone coverage, the post route is especially potent when the defense is using two high safeties. This route attacks the open space between the safeties in the deep middle of the field, forcing the defensive backs to choose between covering the post route or other players in the vicinity. Quick decision-making and precise execution by the offense can lead to mismatches and open up opportunities for yards after the catch.

Here are a few aspects of the post route that should be considered in different game situations:

  • Depth of cut: When running a post route, the receiver should cut in towards the goal posts at around 10-12 yards downfield. This depth should be adjusted depending on the defensive coverage and teammates’ routes to maximize the effectiveness of the play.
  • Creating separation: In man coverage, the receiver should focus on using speed and agility to create separation from the defender. This can be achieved through quickly changing direction or intelligent route running to exploit the defender’s weaknesses.
  • Reading the defense: It’s essential for the quarterback and the receiver to read the defense before the play and identify any potential weaknesses they can exploit with the post route. Communication is key in effectively executing this route.

In summary, the post route can be a powerful play in football when executed correctly in various game situations. The ability of the players to adapt and adjust their route according to the defensive coverage, as well as their ability to create separation and quickly identify defensive weaknesses, will contribute to the success of this play.