Playbooks
Mtn Shuffle Verts Smash is a vertical stretch concept out of Shotgun Doubles Stack Clamp designed to attack single high and press man coverage. The stack releases into a shuffle/verts combo to occupy deep defenders while the smash concept on the other side stacks a corner route over a flat route to create a high low read on the flat defender. This is a man beater first, but it also stresses two deep shells by clearing out the middle with three verticals, so the primary read progression starts with the deep verts shot, works to the smash corner route if the safety rotates over the top, and checks down to the flat route versus aggressive underneath coverage.
Pre snap, identify if the defense shows a single high safety, this tells you the middle of the field is open for the verts shot down the seam. Watch the corner over the smash concept, if he sits low on the flat route expecting a quick throw, the corner route behind him will be wide open for a big gain. Post snap, track any user controlled safety or linebacker dropping into a deep middle lurk, this is the biggest threat to the verts route and forces you to work the smash side instead. If the defense shows Cover 3 with the corners bailing hard at the snap, target the shuffle route in the void between the flat defender and the deep third defender. Beware of a disguised Cover 6 rotation, if the safety over the smash rotates late, the corner route will be taken away and you need to reset to the checkdown route.
Check the safety alignment before the snap, if you see two high safeties cheating to the stack side, the smash concept away from the stack is your primary shot.
Use this play on second and long or third and long when you need explosive plays over the middle against zone coverage that has to respect verticals.
Hot route the shuffle route to a deep dig if you see a robber or lurk defender sitting in the middle of the field, this removes the traffic and opens a clean throwing lane.
Pair this play with Mtn Rub Smash earlier in a series so defenders start jumping the smash concept, then come back to this shot play to hit the verts once the corner overplays the flat.
Against man coverage, user your best route runner in the stack release and manually rip him away from the leverage of the defender before the ball arrives.