Playbooks

Inside Smash

Pistol·Trips·11

Smash Pass Play Cover 2 Beater

Play diagram for Inside Smash from Pistol Trips in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationPistol

SetTrips

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 4 playbooks

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Breakdown

Inside Smash out of Pistol Trips features a corner route from the outside trips receiver breaking deep toward the sideline while the inside slot runs a quick hitch/flat route underneath, creating the classic high low smash conflict on the trips side. The backside single receiver runs a deep post crossing the field, giving the quarterback a shot option away from the trips concept. The running back releases out of the backfield on a wheel/flat route underneath, adding a fourth option to stress underneath zone defenders. This is a pass play built as a Cover 2 beater, with the primary read starting on the corner and flat combo to the trips side before working to the backside post if the safety cheats over.

Defensive Reads

Look for two high safeties pre-snap since this concept is designed specifically to attack Cover 2 by stretching the cornerback vertically and horizontally. If the cornerback sinks with the corner route and the flat defender squats, the running back release out of the backfield becomes the answer against that under cover. Watch for a single high safety rotating hard to the trips side, that alignment often means the backside post is wide open against Cover 3 or Cover 1. Man coverage with a linebacker matched on the running back is a green light to attack the flat route immediately since backs typically win against slower defenders in space. Beware a user controlled safety sitting deep in the middle of the field who can jump the post route or a defender lurking underneath the corner route who can bait the first read.

Usage Tips

Use this play on early downs when you expect a two high safety shell since the corner route is designed to sit behind the cornerback and in front of the deep safety. Pre-snap, check the cornerback depth on the trips side, if he is playing off you can hot route the flat route to a quick option to speed up the underneath conversion. Motion the running back check into the flat before the snap to confirm man versus zone based on whether a linebacker follows him. Pair this play with Slants or Stick from the same set to keep the defense honest on quick game if they start jumping the corner route. Save the backside post shot for third and long situations against single high look defenses that rotate the safety to the trips side.