Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Z Spot is a quick-hitting Cover 3 beater run from Singleback Bunch 11 personnel. Off the bunch alignment, one receiver runs a corner route stretching the deep third, one settles into a spot route sitting down in the underneath hole at the sticks, and the third releases outside on a flat/drift route to the boundary, while the isolated X to the backside runs a vertical release into the open space. The RB stays in to help protect as the QB reads the spot sitting man against the flat/corner combo, working outside in based on the underneath defender's leverage.
Defensive Reads
Identify Cover 3 pre-snap by checking for a single high safety and corners playing off, this shell is what Z Spot is designed to exploit since the flat and hook defenders get horizontally stretched. Watch the flat defender post-snap, if he sinks to cover the spot route the flat route behind him is wide open, if he stays wide the spot route sits in the void. Beware of Cover 2 Man or man pressure looks with press corners, since the bunch alignment can get jammed at the line and disrupt the timing of the spot route. Key the underneath hook or curl defender's zone drop, if he reads QB eyes and jumps the spot route immediately, check down to the backside vertical or flat route for the easier throw. User linebackers sitting in a lurk technique in the shallow zone can rob the spot route, so if you see a defender spying that area pre-snap, shift protection or motion to confirm man versus zone before the snap.
Usage Tips
Use this against Cover 3 zone shells where the flat defender and hook defender have to choose between the spot route and the flat route, since both cannot be covered cleanly.
Pre-snap, check safety depth, if you see two deep safeties bail into Cover 2 or Cover 4, be ready to hot route the spot man into a quick out or work the backside vertical instead.
The spot route is your first read against zone, it sits down in the throwing lane before the linebacker can wall it off, so time your throw before the defender squats the route.
Pair this play with Spot Dig and Spacing in the same set to keep defenders guessing between quick spot concepts and deeper crossing routes, forcing linebackers to hesitate on their zone drops.
Best used on second and short to medium or third and short, since the high percentage spot route and flat route give you an easy completion window to move the chains.
