Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Fade Smash out of Pistol Doubles Y Off is a classic Cover 2 beater built on a two-man smash concept to the left and a solo vertical release to the right. To the left, the outside receiver runs a fade up the sideline while the inside slot receiver runs a quick out underneath, creating a high-low stretch on the corner and safety. To the right, the isolated receiver runs a vertical stem into a corner breaking route, working the boundary against a single defender. The primary read starts with the smash side: throw the fade if the corner bites on the flat route, or work the underneath out if the safety rotates over the top, then come back to the backside corner route if the Cover 2 shell is disguised or rotates late.
Defensive Reads
Check both safeties before the snap, if they are aligned deep and outside the hashes this confirms Cover 2 and the smash concept is live. Watch the flat defender or corner on the smash side after the snap, if he jumps the underneath out the fade behind him is wide open. Key the backside safety rotation, if he cheats toward the smash concept the backside corner route becomes a one on one win against the corner. Beware of Cover 4 or quarters shells where the safety on the backside can sink onto the corner route and take away that throw. Watch for user linebackers dropping into the shallow flat, they can lurk the underneath out route and jump the throw if the quarterback stares it down too long.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing two deep safeties before the snap since this play is designed specifically to attack that shell.
If the corner on the smash side sinks with the fade, snap the ball down to the underneath out for an easy completion and YAC opportunity.
Use the backside corner route as a hot read against single high safety looks since the isolated receiver gets a favorable one on one matchup.
Pair this play with Four Verticals and PA Slot Cross in your play-calling sequence so the defense cannot sit on the smash concept without getting burned deep.
Best used on second and medium to second and long, or in red zone situations near the numbers where the fade and corner routes have room to work the sideline.
