Playbooks
Breakdown
Z Spot is run from Shotgun Empty Bunch with a 3x1 look, attacking the bunch side with a classic spot concept while the backside receiver runs a lone deep dig across the field. The near bunch receiver runs a quick out to the flat, the middle bunch receiver runs a corner route breaking outside, and the third bunch receiver settles underneath in the spot area, creating a natural triangle stretch of flat, corner, and hook defenders. There is no run action or blocking scheme to speak of since this is a five wide empty look, and the design is a zone beater meant to overload one side of the field against Cover 3 and other zone shells. Primary progression starts with the corner route to see if the safety over the top bites on the spot route underneath, then works down to the flat and finally the spot as the checkdown.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and count defenders in the box since a light box with two deep safeties signals Cover 2 or Cover 4, which take away the corner route but leave the flat and spot open. Watch the flat defender at the snap since in Cover 3 he will widen to the sideline receiver, opening a window for the spot route sitting underneath. Key the middle linebacker or hook defender drop since if he sinks too deep chasing the corner route, the spot route sits in soft grass for an easy completion. Man coverage with a blitz look is the biggest threat to this play since the backside dig has no help and the quick timing routes on the bunch side get eaten up by press man before routes develop. Watch for a user linebacker sitting in the shallow window trying to jump the spot route, since that is the primary lurk threat defenses use to bait quarterbacks into a pick six.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing single high or two high safeties since this play is built to punish single high zone shells like Cover 3. If the corner playing the bunch side widens out or shows soft outside leverage, look immediately to the corner route for the explosive shot play. Hot route the backside dig into a deeper route or a hitch if you are facing man coverage since that receiver is isolated with no help. Use this play on early downs to set up Z Spot N Go later in the drive, since the double move off the same look will freeze defenders who bit on the flat and spot routes previously. Pair this with Verticals or Divide Wheel in your play-calling sequence to keep defenders honest against the empty bunch look before coming back to Z Spot for the easy zone conversion.
