Playbooks

Z Spot Smash

Shotgun·Empty Bunch Wide·11
SmashSpotPass PlayCover 2 BeaterCover 3 Beater
Play diagram for Z Spot Smash from Shotgun Empty Bunch Wide in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 19 playbooks

Bengals OffenseOffenseCardinals OffenseOffenseColts OffenseOffenseCowboys OffenseOffenseDolphins OffenseOffenseFalcons OffenseOffensePackers OffenseOffenseShotgun OffenseOffenseTitans OffenseOffenseVikings OffenseOffenseNFL Live Bengals OffenseOffenseNFL Live Cardinals OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Z Spot Smash aligns out of Shotgun Empty Bunch Wide, spreading five eligible receivers across the field with no back in the backfield. To the trips bunch side, the diagram shows a corner route stretching the sideline vertically, a short spot route sitting down in the flat/hook area, and a quick out breaking underneath, forming the classic smash concept that stretches the defense high and low on that side. Backside, the single receiver runs a deep post while the slot defender runs a shallow drag underneath crossing the field. This is a full field zone beater built to attack Cover 2 and Cover 3 with the smash combo, and the primary read starts with the corner route on the trips side to see how the deep defender reacts before working down to the spot and out routes underneath.

Defensive Reads

Read the deep safeties presnap to determine if you are facing a two deep shell or single high look, since this smash concept is built specifically to exploit Cover 2 rotation. Key the flat defender or underneath zone defender to the trips side, since if he sits on the spot route the corner route behind him is open, and if he widens for the out route the spot route sits in the window. Watch for a user controlled defender lurking in the shallow hook zone, since he can jump the spot route or the drag route if the quarterback stares it down too long. Against man coverage, look for natural rub potential from the bunch alignment to spring the spot route or out route open against tight man defenders trailing from depth. Beware of a Cover 3 buzz call where the flat defender to the bunch side sinks under the corner route, taking away the deep shot and forcing a check down to the underneath routes.

Usage Tips

Presnap, identify whether the corner and safety to the trips side are playing two deep or rolling to three deep, since that dictates whether you throw the corner route or work underneath to the spot and out.

Against Cover 2, target the corner route immediately if the deep half safety bites on the spot route sitting underneath, since the smash concept is designed to put the corner defender in a bind.

Against Cover 3, work the spot route into the vacated hole underneath the deep third defender, then use the out route as your checkdown if the flat defender widens.

Use the backside post as a home run shot if the defense rolls a safety over to the bunch side presnap, since that leaves single high coverage on the post route.

Pair this play with Z Spot N Go in the same set to keep defenders honest, since the double move off the same initial route look punishes defenders who jump the spot route after seeing this play on tape.

Other Plays in Empty Bunch Wide