Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Fade Smash out of Pistol Strong Slot is a classic smash concept run to the closed side, paired with a two man route to the backside. To the trips/strong side, the outside receiver runs a fade up the sideline while the slot receiver underneath runs a corner route, creating a high low stretch on the cornerback and flat defender. Backside, the receiver runs a deep dig/post crosser while the second route breaks off underneath to the flat, giving you a built in checkdown away from the smash concept. This is a classic Cover 2 beater: the fade occupies the deep half safety while the corner route sits in the void behind the flat defender and in front of the safety, with the primary read progression going fade to corner on the strong side before working backside to the crossing route.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check for two deep safeties since this alignment is the primary weakness the fade and corner combo is designed to exploit. Watch the flat defender or slot cornerback at the snap since if he sinks with the corner route, the fade window opens up against the deep safety. If the defense shows Cover 3 or a single high safety, expect the corner route to be squeezed and the fade to be less effective since the deep third defender can carry it. Key the linebacker depth on the backside since a shallow drop from the linebacker will take away the crosser and force the quarterback to hold the ball longer. Watch for a user controlled defender lurking in the throwing lane between the fade and corner route, since aggressive users will jump the corner route if they read the smash concept.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify if the safeties are showing two deep shells before the snap since this play is designed specifically to attack Cover 2 and Cover 4 zone shells.
If you see man coverage with no safety help over the top, hot route the corner route into a quick out or speed out to give your slot receiver an easier win against off coverage.
Use this play on second and long or third and medium situations where you need a chunk play, since the fade corner combo stresses zone defenders vertically and horizontally at the same time.
Pair this with WR Smash from the same set to keep defenses guessing since both plays attack similar zone leverage points but with different route depths and timing.
If the user controls the flat defender and sits underneath the corner route, look immediately to the backside crosser or the checkdown flat route for an easy completion instead of forcing the ball into a jumped throwing lane.
