Playbooks
Breakdown
Z Spot out of Pistol Open Flex Close (11 personnel) is a classic Spot concept built to attack Cover 3 and other zone shells. Off the diagram: the backside X runs a deep corner route up the numbers, the TE releases from an off-ball spot to run a corner/flat route into the same side, the Z runs a quick hitch/spot sitting in the void underneath, the inline receiver near the formation runs a short pivot to the flat, and the RB releases out of the backfield on a wheel route up the sideline off play action fakes. The primary read progression starts with the underlying Spot route (Z) versus the flat defender, then works to the corner route breaking behind the curl/flat defender, with the RB wheel as a late-developing answer if the defense rolls coverage to the trips or bracket side.
Defensive Reads
Key the flat defender first, if he widens with the pivot route or flat route, the Z's spot route sits in the window for an easy completion. Watch the corner/curl defender on the strong side, if he sinks under the corner route, the Spot route underneath opens up for the quarterback. Versus Cover 3, the deep third corner will often carry the corner route, which opens the wheel route from the RB if the flat defender bites on the underneath routes. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is where the corner route wins vertically, look for the corner defender leaning inside pre-snap. A user lurking underneath in the shallow zone can jump the Z's spot route, so check for defenders sitting in that intermediate throwing lane before committing to the first read.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing single-high (Cover 3) or two-high (Cover 2/4) shells since this concept is built specifically to punish Cover 3 flat-footed zone drops.
If the corner over the X is playing off and soft, take the deep corner route shot early instead of working the shorter Spot route.
Use the RB wheel route as your answer versus man coverage or when the flat defender jumps the Z's spot route, it is your built-in hot route beater against overaggressive underneath defenders.
Pair Z Spot with PA Boot from the same set to keep linebackers honest on the play action fakes, then come back to Z Spot once they start sitting on the run action.
On third and medium, this play is ideal since the Spot route sits down in the sticks and the corner route stretches the field vertically to hold the safety.
