Playbooks
Breakdown
PA Spot (1) out of Jumbo Strong I is a play-action pass built off the heavy run-first personnel to freeze linebackers before attacking the underneath zones. The Spot concept layers a corner route, an out or flat route, and a spot/hitch or hook route to the same side, creating a natural high low read that stresses Cover 3 defenders on the boundary. This is a zone beater first and foremost, with the primary progression starting at the corner route to see if the deep third defender bites on the play fake, then working down to the spot/hitch sitting in the hole, and finishing with the flat as the checkdown against blitz or if the underneath defenders squeeze the middle.
Defensive Reads
Identify Cover 3 pre-snap by looking for a single high safety and cornerbacks playing off with outside leverage, this is the shell PA Spot (1) is designed to exploit. Watch the play side cornerback at the snap, if he turns and runs with the corner route instead of sitting on the flat or spot, the underneath throws open up immediately. Key the flowing linebackers after the play fake, if they bite hard downhill on the run action, the spot route sitting in the hook zone will be wide open for an easy completion. Beware of Cover 4 or Cover 6 shells with two deep safeties who do not bite on the play fake, since they can sit on the corner route and force you into the shorter, lower value throws. Watch for a user controlled defender spying the flat or lurking in the shallow hook zone, since aggressive users can jump the spot or flat routes and bait a turnover if you rush the read.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs, ideally first or second and short, when the defense expects a run look based on the heavy Jumbo personnel and Strong I alignment.
Check the safety depth pre-snap, if you see a single high safety shaded to the play side or both safeties sitting deep, that is your green light for the corner route since Cover 3 is the intended target.
Use the play fake fully, let the running back action sell before hitting the drop back, since a rushed fake will not hold linebackers long enough to open the spot window.
Hot route the backside receiver into a slant or drag if you diagnose man coverage pre-snap, since the base Spot concept routes are more effective against zone shells than tight man coverage.
Pair this with HB Dive and Power O earlier in a series to establish the run and condition the defense to bite on the play fake, then call PA Spot (1) once you see linebackers creeping up on early downs.
