Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Counter Alert Smoke is a run-pass alert built off a Counter run scheme out of Pistol Weak Slot Open, giving you a pre-snap check between the ground concept and a quick screen to bail on pressure. On the diagram, the offensive line pulls for a classic power counter blocking scheme to the play side, while the slot receiver runs a quick smoke/bubble screen route to the flat as the alert throw, and the two outside receivers stay in as blockers on the perimeter with vertical stem releases to occupy the corners. The primary read progression is pre-snap: identify the alignment of the flat defender and overhang, and if he is crashing down or blitzing, alert to the smoke throw; if the edge is soft and the box count favors the run, hand it off on the counter action.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat defender and slot corner pre-snap since their leverage determines whether the smoke alert or the counter run gets triggered. Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells with aggressive corner blitzes or run-support corners are vulnerable to the smoke throw since the flat opens up instantly. Man coverage with no underneath help on the slot receiver gets beaten quickly by the bubble concept before the defender can close the cushion. A light box with linebackers flowing hard to the play side counter action gets gashed if the defense over-pursues the pulling linemen. Stacked fronts with an extra hat in the box and disciplined edge defenders who stay home on both the run fit and the flat threat shut this play down completely.
Usage Tips
Use your pre-snap alert key to scan the flat defender and slot corner before the snap, since this play lives and dies on that read.
If the defense shows a hard edge blitz or the corner is playing off with soft outside leverage, pull the trigger on the smoke alert immediately for a free gain.
If the box count is light and the linebackers are showing run-flow triggers, stick with the counter run and trust your pulling linemen to seal the edge.
Pair this with Zone Alert Smoke and Zone Fake Jet from the same set so the defense cannot key on your run action based on formation tendencies.
Best used on early downs (1st and 10 or 2nd and short) where defenses are more likely to sit in base fronts and give you a clean smoke read against overaggressive flat defenders.
