Playbooks
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Blast Alert X Smoke is a downhill power run out of Pistol Weak Slot 21 personnel, with an alert tag that lets you check to a bubble screen if the numbers favor it. The diagram shows the HB taking a lead path behind the fullback into the B gap for a classic iso blast, while the X receiver on the boundary runs a quick smoke screen route with the outside receiver blocking for him. This is a run-first play with a built-in RPO style bailout: read the flat defender or overhang first, and if he crashes down on the run fit, alert to the X Smoke to attack the space he vacated.
Defensive Reads
Watch the alignment of the defender over the alert receiver before the snap, since a soft or bailed technique signals an easy smoke throw. Identify if the defense is running a run blitz or stacked box look, which tells you to check to the smoke rather than force the ball inside. Post-snap, key the flow of the play side linebacker: if he flows hard downhill to fill the B gap, the smoke window opens up immediately on the perimeter. Watch for user defenders sitting the flat or slot area, since a smart user can jump the smoke route and turn it into a turnover. Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells with soft corner play are vulnerable to the smoke alert, while aggressive Cover 0 or man blitz packages test whether your fullback can hold up the point of attack on the blast.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, scan the box count and the alignment of the alert receiver's defender before deciding whether to run the blast or throw the smoke. If the corner or slot defender is playing off or bailing into a deep zone, take the free smoke throw for an easy conversion on early downs. If the overhang defender is sitting on the smoke route or crashing hard, stick with the HB Blast and trust your fullback lead blocker into the B gap. Use this on 2nd and short or 3rd and short to keep defenses honest, since the smoke alert punishes aggressive blitz calls that bring extra bodies into the box. Pair this with HB Dive and Counter Str from the same set so defenses cannot key on the iso blocking scheme, and mix in Read Option to force linebackers to respect the mesh point before crashing down.
