Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Smash out of the Near Close Flex 21 personnel set features a classic two man flood concept run to both sides of the field. The outside receiver on each side runs a corner route up the sideline while the inside slot defender releases on a shorter hitch or flat route underneath, creating a high low stretch on the boundary corner. There is no play action or run fake shown here, this is a straight dropback pass designed to attack Cover 2 shells by putting the flat defender and deep half safety in conflict. Primary read progression starts with the corner route since it stresses the deep half defender first, then works down to the underneath flat route if the corner is capped.
Defensive Reads
Watch the cornerback depth at the snap, if he sinks into a deep zone drop that confirms Cover 2 and tells you the corner route will have room to work against the safety. Key the flat defender or slot corner, if he sits in the shallow zone and does not chase the underneath route the quarterback should progress straight to the corner throw. Identify any user controlled defender lurking in the intermediate zone since a smart user can jump the flat route and bait a throw to the sideline. Cover 4 or quarters shells with press corners shut this play down quickly because the corner route runs directly into the deep quarter defender with no natural void to exploit. A disguised nano blitz off the edge can collapse the pocket before the corner route develops, so check the box count and edge defender leverage before the snap to make sure protection numbers are sound.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs or second and medium to keep the defense honest before leaning on it in third and long situations where the corner route can pick up a full first down against soft zone. Check the safety alignment pre snap, if you see two deep safeties splitting the field evenly that confirms Cover 2 and this concept is money. If the corner shows hard outside leverage pre snap, hot route the underneath receiver into a speed out to beat aggressive man coverage instead. Pair this call with Mtn Stick or Curl Flat from the same set so the defense cannot sit on the corner route tendency, both plays share similar initial receiver releases which disguises your intent. Against Cover 3 or a single high safety look, consider audibling out to Post Drag or Shallow Cross since the smash concept loses its deep half conflict advantage without two safeties to attack.
