Playbooks

Z Spot

Pistol·Open Flex·11

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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationPistol

SetOpen Flex

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 1 playbook

Franchise Offense ChainmoverOffense

Breakdown

Z Spot is a quick-hitting spot concept out of Pistol 11 personnel, built to attack zone coverage with a five-man route combo that floods the underneath and intermediate levels. The Z runs a sit route into the spot window while complementary routes clear out and occupy the flat and hook defenders, creating natural picture reads against Cover 2 and Cover 3. The primary read progression starts with the Z on the spot route, then works to the underneath check down or flat route if the middle linebacker or nickel jumps the sit route.

Defensive Reads

Check safety alignment before the snap, a two-high shell with soft corners signals Cover 2 or Cover 4 which gives the spot route a clean throwing lane underneath. Watch the middle linebacker or nickel defender at the snap, if he sinks into the spot window immediately this indicates a zone drop designed specifically to take away this concept. Look for cornerback depth on the outside, tight press alignment suggests man coverage which can bait the offense into a low percentage throw if the QB does not check down quickly. Key on blitz indicators such as linebackers creeping toward the line or a safety rotating down late, since a delayed blitz can collapse the pocket before the spot route develops. Identify user controlled lurk defenders sitting in the shallow middle, a savvy user player will bait the QB into the spot route then jump the throw for a pick six opportunity.

Usage Tips

Identify pre-snap whether you are facing a two-high or one-high shell, since Z Spot thrives against zone shells that leave natural spacing windows in the underneath middle.

Use your hot routes to convert the flat route into a quick out if you see man coverage on the outside receiver, since the base concept is designed to punish zone drops rather than tight man coverage.

Run this on early downs or third and short to medium since the spot route sits right at the sticks and gives you a high percentage completion against zone blitz calls.

Pair Z Spot with PA Boot or PA Boot Rt in the same set to keep linebackers honest, since both plays start with similar backfield action before diverging into different route depths.

Watch the middle linebacker depth at the snap, if he sits shallow to jump the spot route, hot route the Z into a corner or seam breaker to counter that aggressive zone drop.