Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
H Mtn Z Spot is a Spot concept run out of Shotgun Spread Y-Flex Wk with pre-snap H motion across the formation. The Z runs a corner route up the boundary, the slot man motions and works underneath on a short crossing hitch while the outside receiver on that side runs the classic Spot flat-and-curl combo underneath, and the backside receiver runs a deep flag route. This is a Cover 3 beater built to attack the flat defender and hole defender simultaneously, so the primary read progression starts with the flat/curl combo on the Spot side before working to the deep corner if the zone opens up.
Defensive Reads
Watch the cornerback over the Z receiver before the snap, if he is playing outside leverage with no safety help over the top, the corner route to the boundary can be exposed. Key the flat defender after the snap, in Cover 3 he has to choose between the shallow crossing route and the flat route, so a disciplined zone defender who sits in the middle of that conflict shuts down the easy completion. Man coverage with underneath help kills this play quickly since the crosser and flat routes have no room to separate, look to jump the shallow crosser with a linebacker spy. Blitz packages that bring pressure off the edge opposite the motion can disrupt the quarterback before the deep corner route develops, forcing a checkdown into a crowded underneath zone. Watch for a robber or lurk defender sitting in the shallow zone, since the crossing route is the first thing quarterbacks look to when the play breaks down, a lurking linebacker can jump that route for a turnover.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense is in man or zone, if the defender follows the motion man across the formation you know you are facing man coverage and can attack the corner route immediately.
Against Cover 3, hold your eyes on the curl-flat combo first since the flat defender has to choose between the underneath crosser and the flat route, creating a natural conflict read.
This play pairs well with Quick Slants or RPO Peek Slant out of the same set since both attack underneath zones quickly and keep the defense guessing on run/pass tendencies.
Best used on second and medium or third and short since the Spot concept gets the ball out fast, but the corner route gives you an explosive shot if the safety bites on the shallow stuff.
If you see two deep safeties, expect the flat defender to sit shallow, so hot route the flat man to a quick out or speed up his release to beat a jumpy cornerback.
