Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
X Spot out of Shotgun Trio is a classic Cover 3 beater built on the Spot concept. The three receivers to the closed side run a corner route, a quick pivot/spot route sitting down at the sticks, and an underneath drag crossing at the numbers, while the backside X clears out on a deep corner and the RB releases on a delayed flare out of the backfield to the flat. Protection is a five man slide with the RB checking out late, so the primary read progression is corner to spot to drag with the flare as the outlet against blitz.
Defensive Reads
This concept torches Cover 3 because the spot route sits directly in the flat defender's zone drop while the corner route occupies the deep third defender behind him. Watch the middle linebacker's depth at the snap, if he sinks too deep into a Tampa 2 style drop the underneath drag will be wide open for an easy checkdown. Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets exposed by the corner route stacking the cornerback, so key on whether the corner is playing outside leverage or trailing tight. A well timed nano blitz or user controlled linebacker sitting in the shallow zone can jump the spot and drag routes, so if you see linebackers crashing downhill immediately, expect this play to get shut down. Two high safety shells with press corners force a longer developing throw, meaning if you see Cover 4 or Cover 2 with press, look to attack the flare route or check down to the RB instead of forcing the spot.
Usage Tips
Use this on third and short to third and medium when you expect zone coverage, since the spot route sits down right in the void between the underneath linebackers and the deep thirds.
Pre snap, check for two deep safeties or a single high safety cheating to the trips side, that tells you Cover 3 or Cover 4 and confirms the spot and drag windows will be open.
If the defense shows man coverage or press at the line, hot route the drag into a slant or motion the flare RB into a route to create natural rub separation against man defenders.
Combine this with Snag Slot Out or Curl Flat from the same set to keep the defense guessing between high low flood concepts and the classic spot sit down read.
Against heavy blitz looks, get the ball out quick to the flare or spot route since the five man protection is not built to hold up long against six or seven man pressure.
