Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Smash HB Check lines up in Shotgun out of Spread Y-Flex with 11 personnel, showing two outside receivers running corner routes up the sideline while the inside slot receiver on the left runs a quick hitch to the flat, forming the classic Smash concept on that side. On the right, the lone X receiver simply runs a vertical corner with no underneath flat route paired to it, isolating him against whoever is aligned over him. This is a zone beater built to attack Cover 2 by stretching the corner vertically with the outside route while the hitch sits underneath in the void, and the primary read progression starts with the right side corner route against single coverage before working to the left side smash combo (hitch to flat, corner behind it) if the deep half safety rotates over.
Defensive Reads
Watch for two high safeties presnap since this play is designed to exploit Cover 2 by putting the corner routes on top of the flat and hook defenders before rotation can help. If the cornerback on the isolated right side is playing tight man with no safety help, this becomes a boundary throw and coverage bust waiting to happen so respect his leverage before releasing. Key the outside linebacker or slot corner on the smash side left because his decision to sink under the corner or jump the hitch determines which route is open. Man coverage with press corners and a single high safety can take away both corner routes if the safety has range to help over the top, so look for that shell to shut this concept down. Blitzes that bring extra rushers off the edge can disrupt the timing on the deep corner routes, so if the defense shows an overload look presniff, the quick hitch becomes the built in answer against pressure.
Usage Tips
Presnap identify if the defense shows two deep safeties because this play was built specifically to punish Cover 2 by putting the corner route over the flat defender before the safety can get there. If the corner sits on the right side is playing off man or bailing into a deep third, take the corner route shot early since there is no safety help showing over the top on that isolated side. Use this on second and medium or third and short to medium distances where the underneath hitch on the left becomes a quick check down option if the deep shells are clogged. Pair this call with Double Slants or RPO Peek Slant earlier in a series to get the defense biting on quick underneath throws, then come back to Smash HB Check to hit the corner route once the corners start jumping short routes. Against teams that disguise coverage postsnap, key the flat defender on the smash side since if he sinks with the hitch receiver the corner route behind him is wide open.
