Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mesh Spot out of Pistol Ace Double Wing sends both inside receivers on crossing mesh routes underneath while the backside runs a corner route stemming vertically off the mesh, and the frontside outside receiver runs a flat/spot combo underneath the corner. This is a classic man beater built around natural rub picks at the mesh point, but it also holds up against zone thanks to the spot concept settling into the void underneath. Primary progression starts with the mesh crossers working shallow to high, then works to the corner route as the deep shot if a defender bites down on the mesh traffic.
Defensive Reads
Watch for corners playing tight man press pre-snap since that signals the mesh crossers will draw natural picks and you should user the underneath linebacker to jump the mesh traffic. If the defense shows a single high safety with corners playing off, that is Cover 3 and you need a defender spying the spot route sitting underneath the corner route. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge can beat this play if the quarterback cannot get through his first read quickly, so contain rushers and force a hitch in the throwing rhythm. Post-snap, key the flat defender and underneath linebacker drops since a lurking defender sitting in the shallow crossing lanes can jump the mesh routes for a turnover. Cover 2 with hard corner jams tends to disrupt the timing of the mesh point, so look for corners squatting at the line as a sign this concept will struggle to develop.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing man or zone by checking safety depth and whether corners are aligned inside or outside leverage on your receivers.
Against man coverage, trust the mesh point to create natural picks and let your first read work across the field before checking to the corner route.
Against zone shells like Cover 3, the spot route sitting underneath the corner becomes your key answer since it settles in the soft spot before the flat defender can react.
Use this on third and short to medium situations where the mesh crossers can pick up quick yardage after the catch, or call it on early downs to set up Mtn Duo and HB Dive from the same formation to keep the defense guessing run versus pass.
Pair this with PA Ctr Waggle or PA Boot later in a series since the formation look is identical and forces linebackers to hesitate on their mesh drops.
