Playbooks
Likely unavailable in the playbook builder
Quick Reference
Not in any team playbook.
Breakdown
F Choice Spot out of Shotgun Gadget Backfield is a Spot concept designed to attack Cover 3 zones with a mix of short and vertical stems. The diagram shows a corner route climbing the sideline from the slot, a bender running an option route that settles into the flat or works upfield depending on leverage, an inside receiver sitting down in the underneath hole (the spot), and an outside receiver working a deep vertical route up the numbers. There is also a checkdown or flare route out of the backfield to the boundary that clears out low and gives you a built in outlet against pressure. This is a pass play, not a screen or RPO, and the primary read starts with the option route defender at the second level, then works to the spot sit route underneath, and finally to the deep corner or vertical shot if the coverage opens up.
Defensive Reads
Key the underneath zone defender responsible for the option route area, since his leverage tells the quarterback whether that route sits or releases vertically. Watch the flat defender and outside cornerback depth before the snap, since soft cushion at the corner route position signals Cover 3 and invites the deep sideline shot. Post-snap, track any user controlled lurk defender sitting in the shallow spot window, since a smart human defender jumping that route can bait a turnover if the quarterback locks on too early. Look for two high safety shells that can roll down and take away both the spot and option routes underneath, which forces the quarterback to hold the ball longer and increases sack risk. Man coverage with no help over the top is the biggest vulnerability here, since the deep corner and vertical routes create natural picks and separation against tight man leverage.
Usage Tips
Identify pre-snap whether the defense is showing single high or two high safeties because this concept thrives against single high Cover 3 shells with a hard flat defender.
Use the option route as your first read since it converts based on the underneath defender leverage, sitting if the defender sinks and working outside if the defender jumps the flat.
Hot route the spot runner into a deeper curl if you see zone defenders sitting too shallow, since that window is what this concept lives on against zone drops.
Pair this play with HB Slip Screen and Dragon Spacing in the same set to keep defenders honest, since aggressive blitz reads that jump the spot or option route open up the screen and quick game behind them.
Best called on second or third and medium when you need a chain mover but still want a shot play built in over the top against a blown coverage or busted zone rotation.
