Playbooks

Smash Y-Post

Shotgun·Wing Slot Offset·12

Post Smash Pass Play Cover 2 Beater

Play diagram for Smash Y-Post from Shotgun Wing Slot Offset in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetWing Slot Offset

Personnel

121 RB · 2 TE · 2 WR

In 2 playbooks

Cardinals OffenseOffense NFL Live Cardinals OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Smash Y-Post lines up out of Shotgun Wing Slot Offset with 12 personnel and stacks two receivers to the left while the tight end and running back work the boundary. The left side runs the classic Smash concept with a corner route stacked over an underneath low out, while the right side gives you a deep post from the flexed receiver, a corner breaking route from the tight end, and the running back releasing into a flat route out of the backfield for a built in check down. This is a Cover 2 beater by design, since the high low smash concept on the left attacks the flat defender and the post on the right splits the deep safety, but the flat route to the running back also gives you a built in answer against man pressure. Primary read starts with the post from the tight end attacking the deep middle void, then works down to the smash concept and finally to the running back in the flat if the defense rolls coverage over the top.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify whether the safeties are showing two high or rotating to single high, since this play is built to gash Cover 2 and struggles more against true Cover 3 or Cover 1 looks. Watch the flat defender on the smash side, if he widens to the underneath route the corner route will sit down behind him for an easy pitch and catch. Key the deep middle safety on the post route, in Cover 2 he has to choose between the two verticals and that hesitation is the window you are throwing into. Diagnose linebacker depth before the snap, if the middle or weak side linebacker is sitting shallow expecting to jump the flat route to the running back, that tells you man coverage is likely and you should hot route the flat to a wheel. Against blitz heavy calls or nano blitzes, get rid of the ball on the smash concept quickly since the protection with only the running back releasing late leaves the quarterback exposed on extended plays.

Usage Tips

Use this on second and long or third and medium when you expect a two high safety shell, since the smash and post combo is purpose built to punish Cover 2 and Cover 4 rotations. Check the deep safeties before the snap, if they are sitting at 10 to 12 yards and showing two high, trust the post to split them for an explosive gain. Hot route the running back's flat release into a wheel if you see man coverage with no underneath help, since that turns a checkdown into a home run shot. Pair this play with Smash HB Seam and Verts Choice in your play calling sequence so the defense cannot key on the post read or the smash concept alone. Against zone heavy defenses, work the smash concept first since the flat defender cannot cover both levels of that stack.