Playbooks

Smash

Shotgun·Spread·10
Likely unavailable in the playbook builder
This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Smash out of Gun Spread 10 personnel is a classic two-level man beater built on the corner-flat combo to one side, pairing a hitch or flat route underneath with a deep corner route from the outside receiver. The concept stretches the cornerback vertically and horizontally, forcing him to choose between the underneath flat threat and the corner route breaking behind him, while the backside typically offers a dig or in-cut to keep the defense honest against zone drops. The primary read starts with the flat/corner combo: work low to high, checking the corner route first against man coverage and settling to the underneath hitch or flat route against zone drops.

Defensive Reads

Presnap, check corner depth and safety alignment, since a corner playing tight man with no deep safety rotation is vulnerable to the corner route beating him over the top. Watch for Cover 3 cloud or Cover 4 quarters shells where the corner sinks with the deep route and a linebacker or safety flies out to the flat, taking away both levels of the concept. Post snap, key the flat defender since a linebacker who sits too deep opens up the underneath throw immediately for an easy completion. Look for user-controlled defenders lurking underneath the corner route, since a smart user player will sit on the sideline throw and jump the route if the quarterback stares it down. Blitz packages that bring pressure off the edge can disrupt the timing of the corner route, so check protection and be ready to check down to the flat route as a quick outlet against pressure.

Usage Tips

Presnap, identify if the corner is playing off man or bailing into a zone drop, since Smash punishes both but the read changes based on leverage.

Against man coverage with no safety help over the top, throw the corner route on a rope before the defender can flip his hips and recover.

Against zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 2, hit the underneath flat or hitch route quickly since the corner will sit in the deep third or half and take away the vertical shot.

Use hot routes to convert the backside receiver into a quick out or slant if you see the defense rotating safeties late, giving you a built-in answer versus disguised coverage.

Pair Smash with Smash Corners or Smash Y Post in your play-calling sequence so the defense cannot sit on the same route combo, forcing them to respect both the flat-corner stretch and the double move variations.

Other Plays in Spread