Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Lead Swing Spot is a Cover 3 beater out of Bunch Str Offset that stresses the flat, hook, and deep third with a five level spot concept. From the bunch alignment, the two outside receivers push vertical up the numbers on go routes to clear the deep thirds, the inside bunch receiver runs a corner route into the void behind the flat defender, and the backside receiver runs a spot route sitting underneath the corner. The HB releases on a swing route out of the backfield as the check down, with the offensive line executing a standard pass protection to give the QB a clean progression from spot to corner to swing.
Defensive Reads
Identify single high safety look pre-snap since this play attacks Cover 3 by overloading the flat and hook zones with three route levels on one side. Watch the curl-to-flat defender's initial break, if he widens to the swing route the spot route sits in the open window for an easy completion. Man coverage with underneath help can jump the spot route, so if you see man alignment on the bunch receivers switch your first read to the corner route or the swing route as a hot alternative. Blitz-heavy fronts with a nano blitz look off the edge threaten the QB's timing on the deeper corner route, so be ready to check down to the HB swing immediately. Watch for user-controlled defenders sitting in the flat or robbing the spot route, since a smart defender can bait the QB into an interception if the corner route is thrown too late.
Usage Tips
Use this on third and short to medium since the spot and swing routes give you easy access underneath against off coverage.
Pre-snap, look for the flat defender's depth: if he sits too deep the spot route is wide open, if he crashes the swing to the HB becomes the outlet.
Against Cover 3, key the curl-to-flat defender since he cannot cover both the corner route and the spot route in the same throwing window.
Hot route the backside go route to a comeback if you see a single high safety rotating hard to that side, this keeps the deep third defender honest without giving up a shot play window.
Pair this with Verts Dig or Mtn Deep Post in the same set to force defenses to respect the vertical stretch before hitting them with the shorter spot concept for chunk yardage on early downs.
