Thank you so much Sonic mountain and Wazkelly. I really appreciate the help and the pictures really make it clear to me.
In my excitement to put in the posts and move forward i think I put them in upside down as well. I'm not sure if that will really make a difference given that the bridge leans up on the post screws and not the post itself. i'm considering pushing them in all the way until they are flush instead of trying to pull them out and start over.
I'll post a pic of how i think i was supposed to put them in.