Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Bench Smash out of Shotgun Tight Slot Open pairs a classic smash concept on the right with a bench route combo on the left. To the right the outside receiver runs a corner route while the slot receiver runs a shallow flat route underneath, creating a high low stretch on the flat defender that is textbook Cover 2 beater design. To the left the tight end runs a deep corner while the outside receiver runs a bench route sitting at the sideline, giving the quarterback a second smash concept as an alternative read, with the running back releasing on a check release into the middle of the field. The primary progression starts with the right side smash: read the flat defender first, if he sits on the flat throw the corner behind him, if he widens to the corner take the underneath flat route, then work back to the left side bench and corner combo if the right side is capped.
Defensive Reads
Pre snap look for two safeties splitting the field evenly, that shell tells you the flat defender on the smash side will be isolated and outnumbered by the corner and flat combo. Watch the cornerback depth at the snap, if he sinks with the corner route the flat route underneath will be wide open for an easy completion. Key the flat defender's first two steps after the snap, if he jumps the flat throw the corner route over the top before the safety can rotate over. This concept struggles against Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells where the corner has deep help and the flat defender can sit without giving up the corner route, so expect the quarterback to work to the left side bench and corner combo in those coverages. Watch for user controlled defenders sitting in the shallow flat or lurking underneath the corner route, since smash concepts are vulnerable when a human user robs the flat route and forces a tighter throwing window on the corner.
Usage Tips
Diagnose the safety alignment before the snap, two high shells are exactly what this smash concept is built to shred since it isolates the flat defender against the corner route. Use the right side smash as your first read on third and medium to long since the corner route provides a big chunk play if the corner sits low. Hot route the running back into a check release or delayed flat route if you expect a blitz look, this gives the quarterback a quick outlet against pressure. Pair Bench Smash with Wheel Switch or Bench Switch in the same set to give the defense the same initial picture while flipping route assignments, this keeps user defenders guessing on which side the corner route is coming from. Against aggressive man coverage teams call HB Draw or RPO Peek Slant on early downs to keep linebackers honest before coming back to Bench Smash on passing downs.
