DIAGRAM: This is a nice change-of-pace play and puts extreme pressure on the weak-side LB. It starts from a 3-wide formation. FB is the third receiver and does a join motion-look to try to bring the secondary forward to deal with what might look like a running play.
The Z-receiver runs a 10-yard skinny post and hits the seam. The X-receiver runs a takeoff, he must beat the corner or safety and cannot turn back until 35 yards is covered. The Y-receiver goes under the first LB to the inside and past and over the remaining LBs. He then goes to the opposite void area roughly 15 yards downfield from the LOS toward the sideline.
The halfback checks the weak-side LB and checks for 4 possibilities that the defender will do (Blitz, zone drop tight, man coverage or a zone drop wide). In the first three scenarios, the HB runs a flat route, on the last scenario he runs a short curl route. It all depends on where the WLB goes. He is the Hot Route (Flat).
The FB checks strong-side LB and then runs a quick curl.
The QB looks at the Z (flanker), X (split end), Y (tight end), HB in the left flat and then the FB in the right flat. QB throws to the HB in the flat on a “Hot” route in case he gets pressured.
—Matt Fischer,
Assistant Coach,
University of South Alabama,
Mobile, Ala.