Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Z Close F-Flat out of Strong I Pro (21 personnel) isolates the flanker on a deep dig from a tight alignment while the fullback releases to the flat as a quick outlet. The Z runs across the field on an over route that clears underneath zones, the F runs to the flat as the shallow checkdown, and the third receiver runs a short drag underneath the dig to occupy linebackers. The lone deep route (red) is a vertical seam or go from the TE/H-back area, stressing the defense from three levels. This is a zone beating concept designed to attack the seams left by Cover 3 or Cover 2 zone drops, with the primary read progression going vertical seam first, then working down to the dig/over route, and finally checking down to the fullback in the flat if the underneath zones are clogged.
Defensive Reads
Check the safety depth before the snap, since two deep safeties sitting at 10 to 12 yards signal Cover 2 or Cover 4, which invites you to throw the seam route before the safety rotates over. A single high safety at 10 yards or deeper usually means Cover 3 or Cover 1, in which case the crossing over route and flat combo become your primary answers since the deep middle is occupied. Watch the flat defender and outside linebacker, if they widen with the fullback release it opens a passing lane for the drag runner underneath, but if they sit and squat in the flat you need to go over the top with the dig or seam. Look for a user controlled defender lurking in the shallow crossing lane, since aggressive human players will often sit on the drag or dig route to jump the throw, so have your checkdown to the fullback ready as a bailout. Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets exposed by the seam route, so an all out blitz or heavy man pressure look pre-snap should push your eyes immediately to the vertical route rather than working through the full progression.
Usage Tips
Use this play on second and medium or third and short when you expect zone coverage, since the flat and drag routes give you an easy answer against sinking linebackers. Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing two deep safeties or a single high safety, because a single high shell tells you the seam route has a better chance to sit down before the safety can rotate over. If the corner over the Z is playing tight man, hot route the drag runner into a quick out to give yourself a faster man beater instead of waiting on the deeper crossing route. Pair this play with F Trail or Z Close Ctr WK in the same set so you can run similar backfield action and route distribution but attack different levels, keeping the defense guessing on your Z Close package. Against Cover 2, prioritize the seam read immediately after the snap since that route is designed to split the deep zones before the safety can get over the top.
