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Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Mtn Z Spot is a Spot concept run out of Shotgun Y Trips Offset Wk with pre-snap motion into the trips side. The diagram shows the motion receiver running a shallow drag underneath, the inside trips receiver settling into a hitch or curl at the sticks, another trips receiver running a corner route to the flag, and both the backside outside receiver and the deep trips vertical stemming into go routes up the sideline. This is a classic Cover 3 beater since the corner route and vertical stretch the deep third defender while the shallow drag and hitch attack the underneath zone defenders, and the primary read progression starts with the flat to shallow drag, moves to the hitch sitting in the hole, and finishes with the corner route against a hard rolled up cornerback.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a single high safety pre-snap, this usually signals Cover 3 and opens up the corner route against the deep third defender. If the cornerback on the trips side is playing off with outside leverage, the corner route has a clean angle to the sideline before the safety can rotate over. Man coverage shows up if a linebacker or nickel defender mirrors the motion man across the formation instead of staying in a zone drop. User players sitting in the shallow flat or hook zone can jump the drag and hitch routes, so be ready to climb the ladder to the corner route or backside vertical. Cover 4 or Cover 2 shells with two deep safeties can squeeze the corner route, so check if the safety to that side is shaded inside or outside before committing to that throw.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense is in man or zone by watching if a defender follows the motion man across the formation.
Against Cover 3, key the middle hook defender: if he widens with the corner route, hit the hitch sitting underneath for an easy conversion throw.
Hot route the backside go route into a comeback or drag if you see single high safety cheating to the trips side, this keeps the field balanced against rotated coverage.
Best called on second and medium to third and short since the shallow drag and hitch give quick underneath answers while the corner route is the home run shot against soft corners.
Pair this play with Sluggo Seam or Four Verticals in the same set to keep defenses honest against the deep middle, then come back to Mtn Z Spot once the safety starts cheating up on shorter routes.
