Playbooks
Z Spot out of Singleback Bunch Base is a classic Spot concept designed to attack Cover 3 and other zone shells with the bunch alignment creating natural rubs against man coverage. The concept combines a flat route, a corner route, and a spot (curl to a hook zone) route from the bunch, stressing the underneath zone defenders with three levels in a tight window while the backside receiver runs a complementary route to hold single high safety help. Primary read progression starts with the spot/curl route sitting down in the Cover 3 hole, then works to the flat if the underneath defender sinks, and finally to the corner route if the cornerback jumps the flat or squats on the spot.
Watch for a single high safety pre-snap, which signals Cover 3 and tells you the spot route will have a soft window in the underneath hook zone. Key the flat defender post-snap, since if he widens with the flat route the spot sits in a natural throwing lane for an easy completion. If the cornerback aligned over the bunch presses and jumps the flat route immediately, look to the corner route behind him for the explosive gain. Beware of user linebackers lurking in the shallow hook zone, as a smart defender sitting the spot route can bait a costly interception if the quarterback throws on rhythm without checking him. Cover 4 or match zone concepts with disciplined underneath defenders can take away all three levels, so be ready to hot route the backside route into a man beater if the defense shows this shell pre-snap.
Identify the coverage shell pre-snap by checking safety depth and cornerback alignment on the bunch, since this play is engineered to punish Cover 3 sink and hook defenders who fail to cover the spot route properly.
Use motion or a quick shift out of bunch to see if the defense adjusts, which will tip man versus zone before the snap.
Hot route the backside receiver into a quick slant or drag if you are getting no help from that side, especially against Cover 4 shells that can rotate late.
Pair this with PA Verticals from the same set to keep defenses honest on run fits, then come back to Z Spot once they start creeping linebackers into the box.
Best used on second and medium to third and short distances where the underneath zone defenders are more likely to sit and the spot route becomes a high percentage conversion throw.
Combine with Spacing from the same set as a change up, since both attack zone drops but Z Spot creates more explosive corner route shots off the bunch look.