Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Smash out of Empty Trey is a classic Cover 2 beater built on a two-level stretch to the trips side. The outside X runs a corner route to the deep quarter while the inside slot receiver sits on a hitch/hook underneath, creating the vertical high-low read on the flat defender and deep half safety. To the backside, the single receiver runs a corner route as well while the tight end releases on a deep out, giving the QB a second smash concept away from the trips. With five receivers out and no protection help, this is a quick timing pass, not play-action or an RPO, so the QB has to work through his reads fast against pressure looks.
Defensive Reads
Watch the cornerback's depth pre-snap on the trips side, if he is playing tight and low he is likely sitting on the underneath route expecting help over the top Key the flat or curl defender after the snap, if he sinks with the corner route the underneath receiver will be wide open for an easy pitch and catch This concept struggles against Cover 4 or Cover 6 looks where the deep quarter defender can jump the corner route without conflict, so expect man or match zone teams to sit on it User-controlled safeties who bail hard to the numbers on snap can take away both corner routes on either side, forcing the QB to check down late Look for disguised blitzes off the slot, since Empty formations remove the running back as a check valve and a delayed blitzer can collapse the pocket before either high-low read fully develops
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify if the corner over the trips side is playing deep or sitting on the hitch, that tells you whether to hit the underneath route immediately or climb to the corner
Use this against two-high safety shells since the corner route is designed to sit outside and over the top of the cornerback in Cover 2
If the defense shows Cover 3 or man, hot route the underneath receiver to a speed out or slant to beat the cushion instead of forcing the smash read
On third and medium, prioritize the low read (the hitch/hook) for a safe completion, and save the corner route for third and long when you need to test the sideline
Pair this with Four Verticals or Y Corner from the same set to keep the defense honest on vertical shots, then come back to Smash Z-Under when you see safeties creeping down expecting quick game
