Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mesh Spot out of Shotgun Bunch Open Offset lines up three receivers to the bunch side with a lone receiver split out weak. The bunch receivers run the classic mesh cross underneath along with a spot route settling into the flat/hook window, while the backside X runs a deep vertical up the sideline to hold the corner and safety honest. This is a man beater built on natural rubs and picks at the mesh point, but it also stresses zone defenders by flooding the underside of the coverage with the spot route sitting down in the throwing lane. The primary read progression starts with the vertical to check for a blown coverage or single high shell, then works down to the mesh crossers working opposite directions, and finishes with the spot route as the checkdown/rhythm throw underneath.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense shows single high safety or two high, single high leaves the vertical route on the backside in a one on one that favors the offense Watch linebacker depth at the snap, shallow linebackers who crash down on the mesh crossers open up the spot route sitting behind them in the hook zone This concept beats man coverage cleanly due to the natural pick at the mesh point, but it struggles against a well timed zone blitz that brings pressure through the mesh lane before the crossers develop Look for a user controlled defender sitting in the shallow zone or lurking near the mesh point, a smart user rat can jump the crossers and cause a turnover if the quarterback stares down the mesh action Cover 2 with aggressive corners jumping the flat can take away the spot route, so be ready to climb the mesh crosser that works away from the flat defender instead
Usage Tips
Check the safety count before the snap, one high safety often means the corner on the vertical route is in a vulnerable spot so take the shot early if the CB is playing soft man
Against man coverage let the mesh crossers work through traffic naturally, the rubs at the mesh point will separate defenders trailing in man and create a window for whichever crosser clears first
Use the spot route as your check down against zone drops, it settles into the hole between the flat and hook defenders and is the safest throw versus Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells
This play pairs well with Mesh Corner and Z Spot from the same set since the initial mesh action looks identical, forcing linebackers to guess on route recognition
Run this on second and medium or third and short situations where the underneath crossers and spot route give you a high floor completion while the vertical gives you a home run shot if the defense sells out on the shorter routes
Other Plays in Bunch Open Offset
Dig ReturnDig, Motion, Pass Play
DuoDuo, Run Play, Power Run
Fake Screen VerticalsPlay Action, Screen Pass, Four Verts +3
FloodFlood, Pass Play, Cover 3 Beater
HB DrawDraw, Run Play
Inside ZoneInside Zone, Run Play, Zone Run
Lead Swing SpotSwing, Spot, Pass Play +1- Mesh Corner
Reload Flood X-ChoiceOption Route, Flood, Motion +2
Reload Inside ZoneInside Zone, Motion, Run Play +1
Reload Spacing SwitchSpacing, Motion, Pass Play +2
RPO Alert OutRPO, Out, Pass Play +1
RPO Peek WR ScreenScreen Pass, Wr Screen, RPO +2
RPO Read BubbleRPO, Pass Play, Run Play- RPO Trap Alert ScreenTrap, Screen Pass, RPO +3
Wheel MillsWheel, Mills, Pass Play +1
Y TrailTrail, Pass Play
Z SpotSpot, Pass Play, Cover 3 Beater