Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mesh Spot out of Shotgun Wing Tight Z sends two underneath receivers on crossing mesh routes to rub off man defenders while a third receiver runs the classic spot route (flat to curl) underneath. On the backside, one receiver clears vertically up the numbers to hold the deep defender, and the running back releases to the flat opposite the mesh concept for a checkdown or option route. This is a true man beater built around natural pick action at the mesh point, though the spot concept underneath also gives it answers versus zone drops in Cover 3 and Cover 2. The primary read starts with the spot route in the shallow flat, works to the mesh crossers as they clear the picks, and checks down to the running back or vertical clear-out route if the underneath window closes.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth at the snap, shallow drops signal zone coverage where the spot route sits in the natural void between underneath zones. Check for a user controlled defender sitting in a lurk spot near the mesh crossing point, that is the biggest threat to this concept and forces you to speed up the reads. Man coverage with tight press on the mesh receivers gets picked off almost every time due to natural rub action, so bail to man coverage sparingly against this formation. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender squatting on the spot route can bait a throw into a jump ball situation, look to the mesh crossers instead if you see that defender sitting low. Blitz packages that send extra rushers off the edge are less effective here since the running back release to the flat gives a quick outlet, but interior blitzes that collapse the pocket before the mesh clears the picks can force early checkdowns.
Usage Tips
Presnap, identify if the defense is showing man or zone by checking corner alignment on the mesh side receivers, tight man press indicates a heavy man beater situation where the mesh point picks will win instantly.
Use the spot route as your first read on quick throws to move the chains on third and short, then progress to the mesh crossers if linebackers widen out of their zone drops.
If you see a single high safety with corners playing off, hot route the backside vertical clear-out into a deep in or dig to attack the void created by the mesh action pulling linebackers.
Pair this play with Duo or Inside Zone in the same set to keep defenses honest on early downs, then dial up Mesh Spot on second and medium once the defense starts loading the box.
Against aggressive user blitzers, get the ball out on the spot or flat route quickly since the mesh crossers take time to develop and can get disrupted by a delayed blitzer crashing through the middle.
