Playbooks

Smash

Pistol·Ace Slot·12

Smash Pass Play Cover 2 Beater

Play diagram for Smash from Pistol Ace Slot in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationPistol

SetAce Slot

Personnel

121 RB · 2 TE · 2 WR

In 2 playbooks

Elites OffenseOffense Pistol OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Smash out of Pistol Ace Slot 12 personnel is a classic Cover 2 beater built on a high low read to one side. The outside receiver at the bottom runs a hitch while the slot receiver clears the corner vertically before breaking to the corner route, stacking a short and deep threat on the same defender. On the backside, the outside receiver runs a deep dig against the flow while the inside receiver releases into a flat route, and the running back leaks out of the backfield underneath as a checkdown safety valve. The primary read progression starts with the corner route over the hitch to the flat side, then works back to the deep dig if the smash concept is capped.

Defensive Reads

Key the cornerback on the corner route side, if he sinks with the corner route the hitch underneath is open for an easy completion. Watch for a user controlled safety rotating down late to jump the corner route, this is the biggest threat to this concept in competitive play. Check linebacker drops on the backside dig, zone defenses that spin a linebacker into the throwing lane can force a checkdown to the running back in the flat. Against Cover 3 or Cover 1 with press man on the outside, the hitch route becomes low value since the flat defender or press corner sits on it, so lean on the backside dig or flat route instead. Blitz packages that bring extra pressure off the edge can be exploited by the running back leak route, so account for the free rusher before committing to a deep read.

Usage Tips

Pre-snap, identify whether the safeties are showing two high shells since Smash is designed to attack Cover 2 and Cover 4 by putting the corner in a bind between the hitch and the corner route.

If the defense shows man coverage instead, hot route the flat route on the backside into a quick out or slant to beat man leverage before the corner over the top can help.

Use this on second and medium to third and short situations where the underneath hitch is a live checkdown but you still want a shot at the corner route for a big gain.

Pair this play with Stick from the same set on early downs since Stick attacks underneath zones quickly and sets up defenders to overplay the flat, opening the corner route on Smash later in the series.

Watch linebacker depth before the snap, if the flat defender or curl to flat player is sitting shallow, throw the corner immediately since the window will stay open longer against a two high shell.