Football Library · Routes
Spot
Receiver releases inside on a slight angle, then SETTLES with a small ROUNDED turn-back facing the QB at 5-6 yds depth in a soft spot in the zone. The settle is what defines this route — it is NOT a clean diagonal that ends; the receiver finishes by stopping and squaring up to the QB so he's a ready target. More deliberate than a hitch (longer angled release, deeper sit). Often the inside route in a snag concept (with corner over and flat under).
Demo rendered on @X (outside WR) at 5yd depth. Only the route runner and the QB are shown so the break stays the focus; the same route family scales to any depth a play calls for, and concepts that use this route may set a different depth.
How to run it
settle in the soft spot at 6 yds.
Reading it by coverage
How to run the spot against what the defense shows.
- Cover 1:
- vs man — the angled release rubs off traffic; settle facing the QB if he trails.
- Cover 2:
- spot into the window behind the OLB and in front of the safety — the snag staple.
- Cover 3:
- settle in the spot the hook and curl defenders vacate — deliberate turn-back, ready hands.
- Zone:
- deliberate settle in the soft spot — deeper and more patient than a hitch.
Concepts that use this route: Snag