Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Smash out of Shotgun Empty Y Slot is a classic Cover 2 beater built on the boundary side high low. The outside receiver runs a corner route stretching the deep quarter while the inside slot receiver sits down on a hitch underneath, creating a two level stretch on the corner. On the backside you get a deep vertical release from the number two receiver and a dig style breaking route from the number three receiver, giving the quarterback a true progression read from the corner and flat combo to the backside dig if the smash side is capped. This is a five man route concept with no run action or blocking assignments shown, a straight drop back man and zone beater depending on which side the quarterback works.
Defensive Reads
Presnap check safety depth and width, two deep safeties split evenly signals Cover 2 or Cover 4 which this concept is designed to attack with the corner route. Watch the flat defender or cornerback on the smash side, if he sinks with the corner route the hitch is open, if he sits on the hitch the corner route wins behind him. Key the backside safety rotation after the snap, a single high rotation to that side means Cover 3 or man coverage and the backside dig becomes the better matchup throw. Look for a slot corner or linebacker showing blitz off the edge presnap, this concept holds up against pressure with the quick hitch but a delayed blitz can beat the drop back protection. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is where this play struggles most, since the corner route lacks a natural pick or rub to separate from a tight trailing defender.
Usage Tips
Presnap identify if the corner over your smash side is playing deep outside leverage, that tells you Cover 2 or Cover 4 and the corner route should sit down in the honey hole behind the flat defender.
If the corner is sitting hard on the hitch route with inside leverage, hot route the outside receiver into a fade or take your eyes to the backside dig immediately.
Use the flat hitch as your quick answer versus blitz looks since it is the fastest developing throw in the concept and holds up against man pressure.
Pair this call with Four Verticals or Flood Switch from the same set to keep the defense guessing between vertical shots and the high low smash concept, forcing linebackers and safeties to respect multiple stretches.
Best used on second and medium to second and long or any first down where you want to test a Cover 2 shell before setting up play action later in the drive.
