Playbooks

Z Spot

Shotgun·Flanker Close·10
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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

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Z Spot out of Shotgun Flanker Close is a classic Spot concept designed to attack zone coverage underneath while giving you a built in answer against man pressure. The route combo pairs a corner route or flat clear out with a spot (curl to the flat area) route from the Z receiver, a quick out from the flanker, and a shallow drag crossing underneath to hold linebackers. Your primary read starts with the spot route sitting down in the void between the underneath zone defenders and the deep third, then works to the flat and drag if the spot window is closed.

Defensive Reads

Check the depth of the underneath linebackers pre-snap, since a Cover 3 sink or Cover 2 zone drop that plays too deep leaves the spot window wide open for an easy completion. Identify the flat defender pre-snap, since Cloud coverage or a corner sitting in the flat can jump the spot route and bait a turnover if the quarterback throws off rhythm. Watch for a user controlled defender sitting in the underneath hole, commonly called a lurk, since a good user can rob the spot route and force you to the drag or flat as a checkdown. Recognize man coverage by outside cornerbacks pressing at the line, since this signals the corner route should win one on one and the drag becomes a spy target for underneath defenders. Key the middle linebacker on blitz packages, since a nano blitz look with a delayed rush can collapse the pocket before the spot route settles, forcing a quick decision or a checkdown to the drag.

Usage Tips

Use pre-snap motion or a quick glance at the second level to identify if you are facing zone or man before the snap, since Spot concepts thrive against Cover 2 and Cover 3 zone shells.

If you diagnose man coverage, hot route the drag into a option route or speed it up to create separation, since the natural rub from the corner route can spring the drag against man defenders.

Save this play for third and short or second and medium situations where the spot sit route in the flat picks up the sticks against zone defenses that sink their linebackers.

Pair Z Spot with Mesh Spot or Stick from the same formation to keep the defense guessing between combos that attack the same underneath zones but with different leverage points.

User the corner route defender if you call this on defense, but on offense watch for a sim blitz disguise since the quick spot route is your built in answer against pressure looks.

Other Plays in Flanker Close