Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Ohio Spacing is a quick-hitting spacing concept out of Shotgun Wing Slot Offset that stretches the underneath zones horizontally and vertically. The play side shows a curl/flat combo with the outside WR breaking to a shallow curl at the sticks while the TE releases underneath to the flat, and a wheel route climbing up the sideline from the backfield alignment, while the backside receiver runs a shallow drag/spot route across the formation working away from the numbers. This is a classic zone beater built to attack Cover 3 and Cover 4 by putting a flat defender in conflict, and the primary read progression starts with the curl-to-flat high-low on the play side before working back to the backside drag against soft zone coverage.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and shell alignment since two deep safeties signal Cover 4 or Cover 2, which opens the backside drag, while one deep safety signals Cover 3, which opens the curl. Watch the flat defender post-snap because if he widens to carry the wheel route, sit the curl route down in the void behind him. Identify user-controlled defenders lurking in the shallow zone since a smart user will jump the curl route, so be ready to check down to the flat or drag route immediately. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is a bad matchup for this concept since the spacing routes lack real separation leverage, so check to a play-action shot play instead. Look for blitz packages that bring extra defenders off the edge because the quick-game timing of this play is designed to get the ball out before pressure arrives, neutralizing most nano blitzes.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the flat defender is a linebacker or a slot corner because that dictates whether the curl or the flat route will be open in the high-low read.
Against Cover 3, throw the curl route sitting down at the sticks since the flat defender typically widens to the wheel route, leaving a soft spot underneath.
Against Cover 4, work the backside drag route since the outside corners will often carry the vertical stems and leave the middle of the field open.
Use this on early downs or third and short to medium since the routes are designed to convert quickly and beat zone drops before pressure arrives.
Pair this with Double Cross or Mesh Spot in your play-calling sequence to give the defense a similar pre-snap look but attack different spacing zones, keeping linebackers and slot defenders honest.
