Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 12 playbooks
Breakdown
Z Spot Quick is a bunch based Spot concept out of Shotgun Bunch Str Nasty that gets the ball out fast with a quick, layered read. The bunch releases with one receiver breaking outside on a quick out, one running a corner route up the numbers, and a third settling underneath on a spot route that curls back to the quarterback, while the backside receiver runs a deep in from the opposite side of the formation. This is a classic Cover 3 beater built to attack the flat to curl window: read the corner route first for a hole shot, then work down to the spot sitting underneath the flat defender, and finally check the deep in on the backside if the underneath defenders squeeze the bunch.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat defender at the snap. If he widens with the out route, the spot sitting underneath will be open in the throwing lane behind him. Key the deep third defender to the corner route side. In true Cover 3 he has to choose between the corner and any vertical threat, which opens the spot as the rhythm throw. If the defense shows man coverage with a linebacker or safety trailing the bunch receivers, expect the corner route to win over the top since man defenders struggle to fight through traffic in bunch releases. Look for a linebacker sitting in the shallow zone on the backside deep in route. A sunk defender in that shallow zone can undercut the throw if the quarterback stares it down too long. Diagnose zone blitz pressure by watching for an extra rusher off the edge pre-snap. The spot route is the built-in answer since it releases quickly and sits close to the line for a fast completion.
Usage Tips
Fire this out of Bunch Str Nasty on early downs or third and short when you expect zone matchups since the spot and corner combo is built to stress a single flat defender.
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing Cover 3 or Cover 4 shell. If corners are sitting deep with no true flat defender, the corner route in the bunch has room to sit down in the honey hole.
Use the spot route as your safety valve against zone blitzes. If you see extra defenders creeping toward the line pre-snap, get eyes to the spot runner right after the snap since it settles in a soft spot underneath.
Pair this play with Corndog Toss or Pin Pull Toss from the same set to keep run and pass action looking identical out of the bunch, forcing the defense to hesitate on flow reads.
Sequence this with Mtn Curls or Mtn Trail Fork later in the drive since both attack similar zone windows but from different route shapes, making it harder for defenders to jump the spot concept after seeing it once.
