Playbooks

Z Spot

Shotgun·Split Y-Flex·21
CornerCurlFlatPostPass Play
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Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Z Spot is a classic Spot concept run out of Shotgun Split Y-Flex with 21 personnel, designed to attack zone coverage with a five-level stretch on one side of the field. The Z receiver runs the corner route to clear space, the TE or slot runs the spot/hitch settling underneath, and a back or third receiver runs the flat route to stretch the underneath defender horizontally, while the backside typically gets a dig or drag as a hot route outlet against man coverage. The primary read progression starts with the corner route to see if the flat defender bites, then works down to the spot sitting in the zone window, and finally checks the flat as the last resort against a hard squeeze.

Defensive Reads

Pre snap, look for two deep safeties and off man or zone corners, this tells you the spot is likely available underneath since the corner route will occupy the deep half defender. Post snap, key the underneath zone defender assigned to the flat, if he sits on the spot route without respecting the flat, check the ball down to the flat man for a checkdown gain. Watch for a user controlled defender lurking in the shallow zone, aggressive human players will sit on the spot route to jump the throw, so be ready to layer the ball or check off to the backside dig. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender squatting on short routes is the toughest shell for this concept, the corner route becomes the only real answer since the underneath window collapses. Blitz packages that bring extra pressure off the edge shorten the read window, so identify Mike linebacker depth and confirm protection before committing to the full progression, otherwise get the ball out on the quick flat or spot immediately.

Usage Tips

Identify the coverage shell before the snap by checking safety depth, a two high shell with squatty corners is a green light for the spot concept because the corner route occupies the deep defender and opens the spot window underneath.

Against man coverage, hot route the spot runner into a quick out or slant to create immediate separation since the sit route does not have built in leverage against tight man technique.

Use this play on third and short to medium distance since the spot sitting route settles right in the sweet spot of the zone for an easy conversion throw.

Pair this with PA Y Cross or Y Cross from the same set to keep the defense honest, the eye discipline required to sink under the corner route on Z Spot is exploitable by the deep shot on Y Cross once defenders start jumping the underneath stuff.

Watch the flat defender before the throw, if he widens with the flat route the spot window opens up big for an easy pitch and catch.

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