Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Z Spot from Singleback Doubles is a classic Cover 3 beater built around the five-man Spot concept on the right side. The backside X runs a corner route up the sideline while the backside slot runs a quick hitch, giving you a two-man read away from the flood if the defense rolls coverage that way. To the strong side, the Y runs a deep corner from the inline attachment, the outside receiver sits down on a spot route over the middle, and the RB releases into the flat underneath, creating a high-low stretch on the flat defender and hole defender in the zone. The primary read progression starts with the flat to spot combo (RB to spot route) working low to high, then works to the corner route if the cornerback bails deep or a Cover 3 defender widens with the flat threat.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high safety alignment since that signals Cover 3 or Cover 1, both of which the flat-spot combo and corner routes are designed to exploit. Watch the cornerback depth at the snap, if he sinks deep immediately the underneath spot and flat routes will be open for easy completions. As the user defender, key the RB out of the backfield first since he is the first read in the progression and jumping his route can bait a bad throw. Look for zone defenders opening their hips to run with the corner routes, that flat-footed reaction leaves the shallow spot route wide open in the void. Cover 2 with a hard-charging flat defender can disrupt the RB's release, forcing the quarterback to hold the ball and climb the ladder to the spot or corner routes later than desired.
Usage Tips
Attack Cover 3 shells with the flat and spot combo since the hole defender can only cover one level of that stretch.
Use the RB flat route as your first read against zone since he is often uncovered against linebacker-heavy zone drops.
Motion the backside slot or check the coverage rotation before the snap to confirm whether you are getting man or zone, then hot route the spot runner into a deeper crossing route if you diagnose man coverage.
Pair this play with Flanker Drag or Curl Flats in your call sheet so the defense cannot sit on the spot concept after seeing it once.
Best used on second or third and medium since the spot route settles at a reliable sticks distance and the corner routes threaten explosive gains if the defense overcommits underneath.
