Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
PA Read Smash runs a classic smash concept off play action out of Shotgun Y Trips Offset with 11 personnel. The isolated backside receiver runs a corner route straight up the sideline while the nearest slot receiver underneath sits down on a quick out, creating a high low stretch on the boundary corner. On the other side, the outside receiver runs a short out breaking away from the formation. This is a play action pass built as a Cover 2 beater, using the run fake to hold linebackers and attack the flat to deep quarter conflict the safety and corner have to navigate. The primary read progression starts with the corner route to the flat route on the two receiver side, working high to low.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify two deep safeties as a sign of Cover 2, this is the shell most vulnerable to the corner over flat stretch on the trips side. Watch the flat or curl defender at the snap, if he widens to the flat route the corner route behind him is open for a big gap shot. Check linebacker depth before the snap, linebackers sitting shallow or creeping toward the box show they are vulnerable to the play action, which slows their pursuit and opens throwing lanes. Man coverage with no safety help over the top shuts this down quickly since the corner route has no natural leverage advantage, so look for the backside out as the answer. A hard inside blitz or nano blitz look pre-snap should send the quarterback to the quick backside out route since the play action fake will not hold up against fast interior pressure.
Usage Tips
Look for Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells pre-snap since the corner over flat combo is designed to attack the flat defender who has to choose between the underneath out and the deep corner route. Sell the play action by holding the ball fake longer against aggressive defenses that flow hard to the run, this buys time for the corner route to develop up the sideline. If the corner sits on the flat route, immediately go to the corner route since the safety cannot cover both without help. Use the backside out route as a checkdown against man coverage or if the trips side is jumped by an aggressive user blitz. Pair this play with RPO Duo Alert Glance or HB Dive earlier in a series to get defenders keying run fits, then hit them with this play action shot once they start crashing downhill on early downs.
