Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Rollout Smash is a play-action rollout pass out of the Near formation's Y Left Slot set, built around the classic smash concept with only two routes shown to the right side. The outside receiver runs a corner route stretching the deep third while the inside slot man runs a quick flat route underneath, creating a high low read on the boundary defender. The quarterback rolls out to that side off the fake, which flattens his launch point and shortens the throwing window, making this a Cover 2 beater since the flat defender cannot cover both routes at once.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat or curl defender to that side at the snap, if he sits on the flat route the corner should be open behind him for the big play. If the cornerback bails deep into a corner drop with a safety rotating over the top, that signals quarters or Cover 2 and you should hit the flat route quickly before the throwing lane closes. Man coverage with the flat defender running with the slot receiver leaves a natural window for the corner route against a trailing cornerback, take the shot if the rollout protection holds. Beware of a user controlled defender sitting in the flat or lurking underneath the corner route, this is the exact spot the play attacks and smart defenders will jump the flat throw. Edge pressure from the rollout side can collapse the pocket quickly, if the defense shows an overload blitz to that side consider checking to a play with protection away from the rollout direction.
Usage Tips
Presnap identify if the defense is showing a two high shell since this smash concept is designed to attack the flat defender in Cover 2 and Cover 4 quarters looks.
Roll to the corner route side and read the underneath flat defender first, if he sinks with the corner throw the flat immediately for a quick easy gain.
Use the rollout mechanic to buy extra time against edge pressure, this play is a good call versus teams that bring outside blitzes since the QB is moving away from the edge rush.
Hot route the flat defender's man to a quick out or speed out if you see man coverage with no safety help over the top, this turns Rollout Smash into a pure man beater.
Pair this call with Curl Flat or Post Drag from the same Y Left Slot set to keep the defense guessing between rollout action and traditional dropback concepts on early downs.
