Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Smash out of Shotgun Wing Slot Wk pairs a classic high low read on the boundary with a deep dig from the backside. The outside receiver at the bottom of the formation runs a corner route while the inside slot receiver sits down on a flat/hitch underneath, creating the traditional smash concept that stretches a cornerback and safety vertically and horizontally. On the backside, the receiver aligned wide runs a deep in breaking dig across the middle, giving the quarterback a window against zone if the smash side is taken away. This is a classic Cover 2 beater built around 12 personnel, and the primary read progression starts with the corner route against the safety before working down to the flat, then over to the backside dig if the safety jumps the corner.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat defender at the snap, if he sinks with the corner route or gets caught in no man's land between the flat and the corner, that confirms Cover 2 and the smash concept is live. A single high safety rotating hard to the smash side signals Cover 3 or Cover 1, which puts the corner route in a tighter window and makes the backside dig the better answer. If the slot cornerback or nickel defender squats hard on the flat route pre-snap, that is a sign of a zone drop designed to bait the underdneath throw, so look to work the corner route over the top instead. Man coverage shows up as the flat defender running with the underneath receiver in phase rather than sitting in a zone drop, which opens up the corner route as a true man beater against most linebackers and slower corners. A disguised blitz that brings extra pressure off the edge will collapse the quarterback's time to let the corner route develop, so recognize blitz-heavy fronts and be ready to check down to the flat immediately.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify if the safety over the smash concept is rolled deep or sitting in a two high shell, since this play is designed to attack a single deep safety who cannot cover both the corner and the flat. If you see Cover 2 or a static two high shell, hot route the flat defender's man into a shallow drag to speed up the underneath progression and force a quicker decision. Use this on second and medium to second and long, since the corner route needs time to develop and you want a defense that will play zone rather than blitz. Hot route the backside dig into a deeper post if you are facing single high safety looks, since the corner route becomes tougher to complete against Cover 3 or Cover 1. Pair this play with RPO Peek Post or RPO Glance Post earlier in a series to condition the defense to respect the run action, then come back to Smash once linebackers start cheating up on run fits. Against aggressive user cornerbacks who jump routes, throw the corner route with anticipation before the break to beat any jump attempt on the underneath route.
