Playbooks

Fade Smash

Pistol·Doubles Y Off·11
FadeSmashPass PlayCover 2 Beater
Play diagram for Fade Smash from Pistol Doubles Y Off in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationPistol

In 11 playbooks

Air Raid OffenseOffenseBroncos OffenseOffenseCardinals OffenseOffenseColts OffenseOffenseFranchise Offense Airraid PistolOffenseJets OffenseOffenseSuperstar QB ScramblerNFL Live Broncos OffenseOffenseNFL Live Cardinals OffenseOffenseNFL Live Colts OffenseOffenseNFL Live Jets OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Fade Smash is a classic two man smash concept run from the boundary side of Pistol Doubles Y Off. The outside receiver runs a vertical fade up the sideline while the inside slot receiver breaks off a quick hitch/curl underneath, creating a high low stretch on the corner. On the backside, the far outside receiver runs a corner route, giving the quarterback a three way progression: fade first for the big play, then the underneath hitch as the short zone beater, and the backside corner if the defense rotates away. This is a classic Cover 2 beater since the fade attacks the deep quarter/half defender before the safety can get over the top, while the hitch settles into the void the cornerback vacates when he sinks under the fade.

Defensive Reads

Read the flat/curl defender first, if he sinks with the hitch route the fade window opens against the corner. Watch the deep half or deep quarter safety, if he stays wide to help the corner over the top, come down immediately to the underneath hitch for a safe completion. Identify Cover 2 by corner depth and safety width pre-snap, this concept is built to punish that shell specifically. Against Cover 3 or Cover 4 with press corners, expect the fade to be contested, prioritize the backside corner route or check down quickly since the deep defender has help. Watch for a lurking linebacker or slot defender sitting on the hitch route, if he jumps the shallow route be ready to reset to the fade or backside corner before the throw window closes.

Usage Tips

Use this on the boundary or short side of the field so the fade route has less grass to cover against the corner and safety.

Pre-snap, check the corner's alignment on the fade side, if he is playing at depth with outside leverage that signals Cover 2 or Cover 4, both of which this smash concept is designed to attack.

If the safety cheats down into the box before the snap, throw the fade immediately since it means single high or Cover 3 rotation and the corner is on an island.

Hot route the underneath hitch into a speed out against teams that squat their corners in zone, this keeps the low man of the smash active without changing your drop.

Pair this call with Four Verticals or PA Post Shot from the same set so defenses cannot sit on the smash concept once they start keying the fade and hitch combo.

Other Plays in Doubles Y Off