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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Mtn Spot is a Cover 3 beater built off the classic Spot concept, run out of Shotgun Doubles Flex Wk Swap with 11 personnel. Pre-snap motion brings the slot receiver in a swap look, and the concept features a corner route clearing out from the outside receiver, a flat route from the motioned man underneath, and a hitch or settle route from the inside receiver working the spot zone between the flat defender and the curl defender. The backside runs a vertical release from the TE and a dig-like square-in from the far outside WR, giving the quarterback both a boundary answer against Cover 3 and a field-side option if the defense rotates. Primary read starts with the flat-to-corner high-low on the motion side, then works back to the spot route and the backside dig if the underneath defenders sink into the flat.
Defensive Reads
Watch the linebacker or slot defender assigned to the motion man before the snap, if he mirrors the motion across the formation it signals man coverage and the flat route becomes an easy completion. Key the flat defender's depth after the snap, if he sinks too deep chasing the corner route, the spot route sitting underneath becomes wide open for an easy pitch and catch. Identify single high versus two high safety shells pre-snap, single high (Cover 3 or Cover 1) is where this concept thrives, two high shells can bracket the corner route and force the quarterback to check down. Look for a user-controlled defender lurking in the shallow zone near the spot route, a smart Cover 3 defender will sit in that window and jump the underneath throw, so be ready to work the corner or backside dig instead. Beware disguised blitzes off the edge, since the protection is a standard 5-man scheme, if the defense brings a nano blitz or overload pressure, the quarterback needs a quick answer with the flat or spot route before the pocket collapses.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense is playing man or zone, if the defender follows the motion man across the formation it is man coverage and you should look to the corner route or backside dig immediately.
Against Cover 3, work the high-low on the boundary side first: if the flat defender widens with the motion man, hit the spot route sitting in the void, if he sits inside, throw the flat route quickly before the corner closes.
This play is best called on second or third and short to medium situations where the defense is likely to sit in zone shells, since the spot concept exploits the seam between underneath zones.
Pair Mtn Spot with Mtn Mesh Y Corner or Mtn Drive in the same set to keep the defense honest, since both attack similar zone voids with different timing and depth.
If you see two deep safeties pre-snap, be ready to hot route the backside dig into a deeper in-route or check to Mtn PA Y Middle Read to attack the middle of the field instead.
