Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Flanker Spot from Singleback Wing Stack is a classic spot concept designed to attack Cover 3 and other zone shells. Off the diagram: the backside receiver runs a deep go route to clear out the corner, the slot man runs a quick corner/flat route with a hard angle toward the sideline, and the inline tight end runs a short hitch/settle route right at the sticks underneath. On the play side, the wing TE releases outside and up the seam on a vertical route, while the running back swings out of the backfield on a wide flat route to the opposite side, giving the quarterback a five level stretch from deep to underneath. The primary read progression starts with the corner route to the flat route combo (high low read on the zone defender), then works down to the underneath hitch as the checkdown, with the running back flat route serving as the outlet if everything else is covered.
Defensive Reads
Key the play side corner and flat defender first since the corner route to flat route combo is designed to put that zone defender in a bind. Watch for a user controlled defender lurking underneath the corner route, as a sim blitz or cover 3 buzz call with a spy dropping into that lane can jump the throw. Check linebacker depth before the snap because shallow linebackers will collapse on the underneath hitch route and take away the easy checkdown, forcing the quarterback to hold the ball longer. Cover 2 shells with aggressive corners can squat on the flat route and disrupt the timing of the high low read, so identify two deep safeties and press corners as a warning sign. Blitz packages that send extra rushers up the middle can exploit the running back leaking out on the flat route since there is minimal protection help once he releases, so recognize pre-snap blitz indicators like linebackers creeping into gaps.
Usage Tips
Look for two high safety shells pre-snap because the corner route and flat route combo on the play side create a natural high low that punishes Cover 3 and Cover 4 defenders sitting in their zone drops.
If the defense shows man coverage, hot route the underneath hitch into a quick out or slant to give your quarterback a faster rhythm throw against man beaters.
Use this on early downs in the 10 to 15 yard range since the spot concept naturally sits defenders down and creates easy completions on the corner or flat route before working to explosive plays.
Pair this with PA Dig or Curl Post Drag from the same set so the defense has to respect both quick game spot concepts and deeper shot plays off similar formation alignment.
Motion the running back or adjust the flat route depth pre-snap to manipulate underneath linebackers if they are sitting too heavy on the short zones.
