Mtn Spot

Check the strong safety depth pre-snap, if he is sitting shallow near the box you are likely seeing Cover 3 or Cover 1, which opens up the corner route working to the flat to deep third seam. Watch the flat defender after the snap, in Spot concepts he has to choose between jumping the flat route or sitting under the corner route, and whichever he takes tells you your open man instantly. If the cornerback follows the motion man across the formation, that confirms man coverage, meaning the drag route becomes the built-in answer and you should get the ball out fast before the pass rush closes. Beware of a user controlled defender lurking underneath the corner route in Cover 3, a smart user will sit in that window and jump the throw, so hold the ball a beat longer and check to the flat if you see him bait the throw. This play struggles against disguised Cover 4 or Cover 2 shells with two deep safeties sitting on the corner route, since it removes the natural window this concept relies on, so be ready to check down to the flat or drag quickly.