Playbooks

Drag Double Spot

Shotgun·Empty Base·11
DragSpotPass PlayCover 3 Beater
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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

Superstar HB Receiving

Breakdown

Drag Double Spot is a five-man route concept built off Empty Base out of Shotgun with 11 personnel, designed to attack zone coverage while still giving you answers versus man. The concept stacks a shallow drag underneath two spot routes that settle into the flat and hook zones, creating a natural triangle stretch that punishes Cover 3 and Cover 4 defenders trying to sink and cover grass. Your primary read starts with the drag crossing the field low, then works to the nearside spot sitting down against the flat defender, with the backside spot serving as your late window if the underneath defenders widen out.

Defensive Reads

Identify single high safety pre-snap, since Cover 3 defenders often collapse hard on the drag and leave the spot routes wide open in the flat and hook zones. Watch the flat defender post-snap, if he sinks with the spot route the drag will have a clean run underneath, if he stays flat footed jumping the drag then throw to the spot immediately. Key the middle linebacker's drop depth, a shallow drop signals Cover 3 or Tampa 2 zone drops that this concept is built to exploit, while a deep drop into the seam suggests man coverage with a lurking underneath defender. Beware of Cover 1 or Cover 0 with a spy or blitzer sitting in the drag's lane, since a user controlled defender can jump the crossing route and take away your first read. Against Cover 4 or Cover 6 quarters shells, expect the corners to stay in phase with any vertical stems, so lean on the underneath spot and drag combo rather than looking for a deep shot on this call.

Usage Tips

Use pre-snap motion or a quick glance at the free safety to confirm single high versus two high before the snap, since this concept thrives against single high shells like Cover 3 and Cover 1.

If you see man coverage with no help over the top, hot route the drag to a speed option or bump it into a slant to win off the natural pick created by the spot routes sitting underneath.

Throw the drag with anticipation on third and short or second and medium since the sit routes give you a built in checkdown if the drag gets taken away by an underneath defender.

Pair this play with Y Cross or Inside Cross in your play calling sequence so the defense has to respect both drag and crossing traffic, forcing linebackers to widen their drops and opening up the spot windows.

Against zone blitz teams, get the ball out on time to the near spot route before the extra rusher closes the pocket, since Empty Base gives you no extra protection help.

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