Playbooks
China Smash out of Shotgun Trey is a classic smash concept paired with a Cover 2 beater tag, designed to attack the flat and corner zones on one side of the field. The outside receiver runs a hitch or curl underneath while the inside receiver or slot runs a corner route over the top, creating a high low stretch on the flat defender and the deep half safety. This is a man beater against press corners and a zone beater against Cover 2 or Cover 3, with the primary read progression starting at the corner route, then working down to the underneath hitch if the safety jumps the deep throw.
Read the safety depth pre snap, if you see two deep safeties sitting at 10 to 12 yards, that is Cover 2 and this play is designed to beat it with the corner route sitting behind the flat defender. Watch the corner or nickel defender at the snap, if he sinks with the corner route instead of jumping the hitch, that is a sign of Cover 4 or Cover 6, so look to the backside of the concept. Key the flat defender's first two steps, if he widens hard to the hitch, throw the corner route behind him before the safety can close the window. Beware disguised Cover 3 rotations, where the corner sinks into the deep third and takes away the corner route entirely, forcing you to check down to the hitch or a backside option. Watch for user controlled lurk defenders sitting in the middle of the field or blitzing off the edge, since this concept takes time to develop and is vulnerable to a delayed pressure package if the offensive line is not accounted for.
Pre snap, identify the strength of the Trey bunch and check if the defense is showing two deep safeties, since this play is built to punish Cover 2 by putting the corner defender in a bind.
If the corner cushions the underneath receiver, throw the corner route immediately before the safety can rotate over.
Use hot routes to convert the backside receiver into a quick out or slant if you diagnose man coverage, giving yourself a rhythm throw away from the smash concept.
Pair this play with Fade Smash and Levels Sail in the same set to keep defenders guessing between smash concepts and levels concepts from the same Trey look.
Best called on second and medium to third and long, since the corner route needs time to develop and the hitch gives you a safe checkdown if the rush closes the pocket.