Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Spot X Option out of Shotgun Tight Open runs a classic Spot concept to the trips side (flat, hitch, corner) while the backside X runs an option route that can settle in soft zone or work vertical against man leverage. The backside also carries a hard flat/out breaking route that clears underneath, giving the quarterback a two way go if the corner sits. This is a Cover 3 beater by design, using the corner route to attack the deep third and the option route to sit in the hole vacated by a rotating safety, with the primary read progression starting on the X option route, then working to the flat/corner combo if the zone flows away from it.
Defensive Reads
Pre snap identify single high versus two high safety shells, single high often means Cover 3 which this play is built to exploit with the option route sitting in the seam. Watch the flat defender post snap, if he widens too fast to the trips side the option route will have a wide throwing lane underneath. Key the corner over the X receiver, if he plays hard inside leverage the option route breaks outside for an easy pitch and catch. Man coverage with no safety help over the top of the option route is a green light for a vertical break instead of the sit. Watch for a user controlled linebacker sitting in the shallow flat zone since he can jump the option route if the quarterback holds it too long.
Usage Tips
Check the safety alignment before the snap, if you see two high safeties bail into thirds post snap this play is designed to punish that Cover 3 rotation. Use the X option route as your first read and trust it to settle in the void if the flat defender widens with the underneath route. Hot route the flat route to a flat sit if you are facing aggressive underneath zone defenders who jump short routes. This play works best on second and medium or third and short since the spot concept gives you multiple high percentage completions underneath. Pair this call with Bench Z Spot or Dig Z Spot from the same set so the defense sees similar route stems and cannot key on the option route tendency.
