Playbooks
Breakdown
Z Spot N Go is a five man route concept out of the Empty Bunch alignment designed to attack Cover 3 and other zone shells with a vertical shot combined with an underneath spot combo. From the bunch, the two inside receivers run a shallow drag and a spot route that settles at the sticks, while the third bunch receiver clears out deep to the corner. On the backside, the isolated receiver runs a go route straight up the numbers as the primary vertical threat, with the QB pressuring the deep half or third against zone drops. The primary read progression starts with the backside go against single high or Cover 3 rotation, then works to the spot route sitting down in the void underneath, and finally checks down to the shallow drag against tighter man coverage.
Defensive Reads
Watch the safety alignment before the snap, since a single high safety who does not rotate to the bunch side signals Cover 3 and opens the backside go route for a vertical win. If the cornerback on the backside go route is playing tight man with no help over the top, that is a strong indicator of Cover 1 or Cover 0, meaning the go route has a legitimate one on one shot. Post-snap, track any user controlled defender dropping into the underneath middle zone, since a lurking linebacker or nickel defender can jump the spot route and bait a turnover. Zone blitzes with a delayed underneath drop can disguise coverage and sit on the spot route, so if you see extra rushers crash the pocket, get the ball out early to the drag or go route before the pressure arrives. Cover 2 shells with two deep safeties will bracket the go route, so if the safety cheats toward the bunch pre-snap and stays deep, look to work the spot and drag combo underneath instead of forcing the vertical shot.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the corner over your backside go route has outside or inside leverage, since that dictates if the go route can win one on one against Cover 3 or Cover 1.
If the safety rotates hard to the bunch side, that opens up the backside go for a shot play, especially on early downs when defenses expect run or a quick game throw.
Use the spot route as your zone beater against Cover 2 and Cover 3, since it sits down right in the throwing lane between the underneath zone defenders and the deep coverage.
Pair this play with Curl Flats or Y Curl from the same set so the defense has to respect both quick game and vertical shots, forcing them to declare their shell before the snap.
Best used on second and long or first down shot opportunities when you want to test a defense playing off coverage, since the go route needs room to operate against a soft corner.
