Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Smash Z-Under from Shotgun Empty Trey stacks a classic smash concept on the boundary with a deep dig and corner combo on the field side. The X runs a quick flag while the outside receiver stacks a corner route behind him for the boundary smash, and on the field side the Y runs an under route crossing the field while the two remaining receivers stretch the defense with a deep corner and a deep dig breaking away from each other. This is a Cover 2 beater with no run action, built to attack the flat-to-corner conflict on one side while the under route gives the QB a quick answer against zone drops or blitz pressure, so the primary read starts with the boundary smash (flag to corner) before working to the underneath crosser as a checkdown against man coverage.
Defensive Reads
Watch the corner over the flag route at the snap, if he sinks into the flat and the safety does not rotate hard to the sideline, the corner route behind it will be open in the Cover 2 hole. Key the flat defender on the field side, if he widens with the under route or gets picked off by traffic near the formation, that throw stays open for a quick gain. Man coverage shows itself if the defenders align tight on receivers with no visible safety help over the top, in which case the under route becomes the go to answer since it creates natural separation against trailing defenders. Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells are tougher for this concept since the extra deep defenders can help over the top of both the corner route and the deep dig, so expect the smash to be less effective and lean on the under route instead. A user controlled safety sitting on the boundary corner route pre-snap or showing late rotation is the biggest red flag, since that defender can jump the route and turn it into a turnover if the QB does not recognize the disguise.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing two deep safeties, since this concept is purpose built to attack that Cover 2 shell on the boundary smash. If the corner squats on the flag route, throw the corner behind him before the safety can rotate over the top. Use the Y under route as your answer versus man coverage or if the corner blitz shows, since it clears underneath quickly and picks up yards after the catch. On third and medium, this play is a strong call because the smash concept forces a hard flat versus corner decision on one defender while the under route offers a built in checkdown. Pair this with Four Verticals or Y Corner from the same set so the defense cannot sit on the smash concept, and mix in Quick Slants when you see teams cheating a safety down to take away the deep corner.
