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Breakdown
Smash out of Shotgun Trey 4WR is a classic Cover 2 beater built on the high low read to the boundary. The backside receiver runs a corner route stacking the sideline while the backside slot climbs vertically then breaks outside on a deep out, stretching any single flat defender or half field safety on that side. To the trips side, the outside receiver runs a hitch/curl underneath while the two inside receivers run a corner route and a wheel/flag route, creating a natural triangle read with the running back staying home in protection. The primary read progression starts with the backside corner to out combo (high low the deep quarter defender), then works to the trips side corner and flat combo if the backside is capped.
Defensive Reads
Watch for two deep safeties pre-snap since this formation and route combo is engineered to exploit the seam in Cover 2 and Cover 4 quarters shells. If the cornerback on the backside sinks with the corner route instead of sitting on the flat, the deep out behind him will be wide open in the void. Man coverage with a physical corner can disrupt the timing of the outside hitch and the deep out route, so look for press alignment as a sign this play may get taken away early. Post-snap, track any user controlled defender flying toward the trips side triangle, since that often leaves the backside corner to out combo singled up with no safety help. If the defense shows Tampa 2 or a robber look with a linebacker sitting in the middle of the field, the wheel route out of the backfield or slot can be jumped, so be ready to check to the underneath hitch route instead.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing two deep safeties before the snap since this play is designed specifically to attack Cover 2 shells and quarters coverage with vertical zone droppers.
If the corner on the backside plays low and the safety sits deep, throw the deep out route into the void behind the corner and in front of the safety for an easy pitch and catch.
Use this on second and long or third and medium situations where you expect a zone shell, since man coverage with a good corner can jump the flat routes and undercut the shallow crossers.
Hot route the running back into a checkdown flare if you see a blitz look, since the play has minimal extra protection built in and needs a quick outlet against pressure.
Pair this play with Four Verticals or Switch Verts earlier in a drive to bait the defense into playing deeper zone shells, then come back to Smash to exploit the natural seam between the flat and deep quarter defenders.
Against user controlled safeties who jump the deep out, look immediately to the trips side corner route since the defense has to declare help to one side.
