Football Library · Routes
Z-In
5-yd vertical stem, then a SHARP break to the outside (~3-4 yds lateral), then a SECOND SHARP break continuing upfield and back inside toward the QB. Creates a Z-shape — the receiver crosses toward the sideline before breaking back to the middle. Beats man coverage (double-move forces the defender to change direction twice). Finishes ~12-13 yds deep inside.
Demo rendered on @X (outside WR) at 13yd 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
stem vertical, break outside, then continue upfield and back inside — cross the defender's face on the second break.
Reading it by coverage
How to run the z-in against what the defense shows.
- Cover 0:
- double-move vs man — sell the out, break back inside behind him; it needs a beat, so protect it.
- Cover 1:
- the outside fake widens the corner, then cross his face back to the middle.
- Man:
- man-beater — commit the defender outside with a hard first break.
- Zone:
- not the call vs disciplined zone — the read here is man leverage.