Playbooks
Depth-chart slots are shown as they line up in the base package for this set.
| Player | Side | Route |
|---|---|---|
| HB1 | Left | Wheel |
| WR3 | Left | Corner |
| WR2 | Left | Bubble Screen |
| TE1 | Right | Out |
| WR1 | Left | Option Route |
Mtn Smash Slot Choice is a trips-based passing concept out of Shotgun Trips TE Flex Close WK that pairs a Smash combo to one side with a choice route from the slot receiver. The Smash concept gives you a hard corner route and a low hitch or flat route underneath to attack cornerbacks playing hard flat coverage, while the choice route reads the coverage in real time to break either in, out, or up against man or zone. Primary progression starts with the choice receiver since it adapts to whatever leverage the defender shows, then works to the Smash side high-low read of corner to flat if the choice is covered or contested.
Read the flat defender first, if he sinks with the corner route the underneath option should be wide open. Watch for user-controlled defenders sitting in the intermediate throwing lane of the choice route, that is a sign of a lurking linebacker in zone trying to bait the quick throw. Identify Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells pre-snap, since the two deep safety look can take away the corner route and force you to live underneath. Man coverage with inside leverage on the choice receiver is a green light for the out breaking option, while outside leverage should trigger the in cut versus man beaters. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge will not affect this concept much since the routes develop quickly, but a delayed blitz through the middle can disrupt the quarterback's timing to the choice route.
Check the corner leverage on the choice route receiver before the snap, if he is playing inside shade throw the out breaker and if he is outside shade look for the in cut against man coverage.
Use this against single high safety shells like Cover 3 or Cover 1 since the Smash concept stresses the flat defender and the corner route sits in the void behind him.
Hot route the backside receiver into a quick drag or spot route if you see Cover 2 shell rotate away, giving yourself a checkdown against zone drops.
Pair this play with Mtn Mesh Go's or Mtn Dagger in your play-calling sequence, since both attack similar trips formations but stress different levels, forcing the defense to guess between shallow and vertical answers.
Best called on second and medium or third and short to medium since the choice route naturally sits down against soft coverage while the corner route still hits explosive shots against aggressive man coverage.