Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Smash out of Shotgun Ace Slot is a classic Cover 2 beater built on the high low stretch to the strong side. The outside receiver at the bottom runs a quick corner route while the slot receiver underneath sits down on a curl or flat route, stacking the deep and short zones on one cornerback and forcing the flat defender to pick a side. On the backside the X receiver runs a vertical seam and the TE releases into a deep out breaking route, giving the quarterback a two man read away from the smash concept if the strong side is jumped, while the running back stays in to help protect and check release into the flat. This is a true zone beater against two deep shells, though it can also work against man coverage if the slot corner route wins vertically.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify two deep safeties and soft corner alignment on the play side, this is the shell that gets exposed hardest by the smash concept. Post-snap, key the flat defender's first two steps, if he sinks under the corner route the quarterback will throw the flat, if he jumps the flat route the corner sits wide open behind him. User the deep half safety on the play side and force him to choose between the corner route and any vertical threat, since a disciplined deep defender who stays over the top can bracket the corner route. Cover 3 with a hard curl to flat defender or aggressive man coverage on the outside corner is the best answer, since it removes the soft spot the corner route is designed to exploit. Watch for a nano blitz off the edge, since the running back's protection responsibility can be overloaded if the offensive line slides away from a well timed interior blitz.
Usage Tips
Diagnose the safety alignment before the snap, two deep safeties with soft outside corners is the ideal shell for this concept since the corner route will sit right in the seam vacated by the flat defender. Progression starts with the corner to flat high low read on the play side, then works to the backside vertical seam if the strong safety jumps the corner route. Hot route the running back into a quick flat release against blitz-heavy fronts to give the quarterback an outlet if the smash side is taken away. Pair this play with Stick or RPO Alert Bubble in your call sheet to keep defenses honest on flat defender leverage, since both concepts attack the same short zones differently and will punish linebackers who cheat toward the smash side. Best used on second or third and medium when you expect zone coverage, since aggressive man coverage can beat the corner route to the sideline with a good jam.
