Playbooks
Slot Choice Spacing
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Slot Choice Spacing lines up out of Shotgun Empty Bunch Open with 11 personnel, spreading five eligible receivers across the formation. The backside X runs a vertical seam up the numbers while the inside slot man runs a hitch/curl at the sticks, and the bunch on the play side works a stacked choice route combo where the inside man cuts underneath while the outside two release into a corner and flat/wheel combo. This is a pass play designed as both a Cover 3 and Cover 4 beater, with the primary read starting on the bunch choice concept working outside to in before checking down to the curl and backside vertical shot.
Defensive Reads
Key the flow of the linebackers at the snap since the choice route concept is designed to sit down in the void created by underneath zone drops in Cover 3. Watch for a user lurking in the middle of the field who can jump the choice route or the curl, since this is the primary throwing window offenses attack. If the corner over the outside bunch receiver presses at the line, that signals man coverage and the choice route should break away from that leverage immediately. A well timed blitz off the edge or a nano blitz through the A gap can disrupt this play since the quarterback needs time to read through the bunch combo before checking to the backside vertical. Watch the safety alignment pre-snap: two high safeties suggest Cover 4 where the corner route in the bunch can stress the flat defender, while one deep safety suggests Cover 3 where the vertical route on the backside becomes the bigger threat.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing two deep safeties or a single high shell, since this route combo attacks the seams left open by Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells specifically. If you see man coverage with no help over the bunch, hot route the choice receiver into a quick option away from the leverage of his defender. On third and medium situations this is a great call because the spacing concept naturally sits defenders down and creates soft spots in the zone. Pair this play with Slot Choice Spot from the same set to keep the defense guessing between the choice combo hitting underneath versus attacking vertically. Use the backside vertical route as a field stretcher against Cover 3 to hold the free safety and open up the intermediate window for the choice concept.
