Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Lead Swing Spot is a Cover 3 beater out of the Shotgun Bunch Open Offset formation, using a three level stretch on both sides of the field. The backside receiver runs a vertical to clear the deep third while the bunch side stacks a corner route over a spot route with the RB releasing on a swing out of the backfield for the underneath flat option. This is a pure dropback pass play with the QB progression starting on the spot route sitting in the hook zone, working to the corner breaking outside, and checking down to the swing route if the flat is soft.
Defensive Reads
Read the deep safeties pre snap since two high shells force the corner route to be capped and the spot becomes the primary answer. Watch the flat defender post snap, if he sinks with the corner route the swing route is wide open for an easy checkdown and yards after catch. Sam and Mike linebacker depth at the snap tells you if the spot route sits in a soft window or gets immediately jumped by an underneath zone defender. User controlled defenders lurking in the shallow hook area can undercut the spot route, so track the user before committing to that throw. Man coverage with no help over the top on the backside vertical opens up a big play shot if the defense sends extra pressure and leaves the corner isolated.
Usage Tips
Pre snap, identify if the defense is showing single high or two high to confirm Cover 3 tendencies before the snap.
Attack Cover 3 hook defenders with the spot route since it settles right in the void created by the flat and curl defenders rotating away.
If you see man coverage with a corner shaded outside on the bunch, hot route the spot to a slant or use the swing as an immediate answer since the underneath crosser creates natural rub leverage.
Use this on early down and medium distance since the swing gives a reliable checkdown if the corner route is capped, avoiding negative plays.
Pair this with RPO Read Bubble or RPO Peek WR Screen from the same set to keep linebackers honest on the same bunch look before dialing up the corner and spot combo.
