Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 14 playbooks
Breakdown
Z Spot is the classic spot concept run out of the Bunch Wide Nasty look in Shotgun, and the diagram shows a five man route distribution with the bunch side running the traditional flat, hitch (corner marked with the red arrow) and vertical clearout, while the backside single receiver runs a deep comeback and the offset back releases into a short flat route underneath. The red arrow route settles into the spot window vacated by the flat defender, which is the signature man and zone beater trait of this concept, and the front five block up for a five step drop with no play action or RPO tag attached. Primary read progression starts with the spot/hitch route in the bunch, works down to the flat if the defender sits over the top, and comes back to the backside comeback if the underneath zones flood the strong side.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, defenders should identify the bunch alignment and communicate assignments early since bunch sets create natural rub opportunities that can pick off man defenders if the switch or banjo call is late. Watch the flat defender key on the offset back release, if he widens too fast to the flat he opens the spot window for the hitch route sitting underneath. Linebackers and nickel defenders need to sink into the spot zone immediately at the snap rather than reading the quarterback's eyes, since the timing on this route is designed to beat late zone drops. User the underneath defender manually in Cover 3 to jump the spot route the instant it settles, this is the single biggest way to shut down this concept before the quarterback can progress to his second read. Press man coverage on the backside single receiver combined with a robber safety over the bunch side takes away both the primary spot read and the comeback route simultaneously.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing Cover 3 or Cover 4 shell since this concept is tagged as a Cover 3 beater and the spot route will sit right in the hole created by the flat and curl defenders rotating. If you see a single high safety with corners playing off, prioritize the spot route immediately after the snap since that soft spot in zone coverage opens fastest. Against man coverage looks, hot route the backside comeback into a fade or speed out to create more separation since comebacks are less effective versus tight man technique. Use this on second and medium or third and short distances where the quick spot route timing lets you get the ball out before pressure arrives. Pair Z Spot with Cheat Spot or Spacing Switch in the same set to keep the defense guessing between quick game concepts, then mix in Verticals or Cheat Wheel Post to punish defenders who jump the spot route too aggressively.
