Playbooks
Z Replace
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Z Replace out of Shotgun Normal Flex Snug is a play action flood concept that stresses the boundary and field with three route levels stacked on top of each other. The play side shows a corner route clearing out the top, a quick out settling underneath it, and a flat route from the backfield replacing the space vacated by the out, while the backside runs a go and a dig combo off the post snap flow to hold the safety. With play action mixed in and a flood to one side, this is a man beater designed to isolate a linebacker or safety on the flat route, and the primary read progression starts with the corner route, works down to the out, then settles on the flat as the checkdown against a hard flow to that side.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check corner depth and safety rotation on the flood side, since a cornerback playing off with a deep safety can squeeze the window on the out and flat. Watch linebacker depth after the play action fake, if they bite hard on the run fake the flat route will be wide open for an easy completion and yards after catch. Post-snap, user a linebacker or safety to sit in the passing lane between the out and flat routes to take away the primary read and force a checkdown or throwaway. This play struggles against zone drops with disciplined curl to flat defenders, since a defender sitting in that flat zone can jump the route and bait an interception. Cover 3 with a hard rolled up cornerback on the flood side can take away both underneath routes, forcing the quarterback to hold the ball and look backside into a crowded coverage shell.
Usage Tips
Use this out of run heavy personnel packages so the play action fake actually holds the linebackers before they can drop into their flat and curl zones.
Identify if the defense is showing single high pre-snap, since the flood side of three routes stacked vertically overloads a single safety and forces him to pick one level to cover.
If you see man coverage with no safety help over the top, snap it and go straight to the corner route for an explosive shot play before the defense can rotate.
Hot route the backside receiver into a shallow drag or slant if you are getting pressure off the edge on the play action fake, giving the quarterback a quick answer.
Pair this play with Z Spot and Switch Seams in your play calling script so the defense sees similar backfield action and receiver splits but has to defend different route depths and angles.
