Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn Smash HB Angle is a Cover 2 beater out of Shotgun Y Trips Wk with 11 personnel. Pre-snap motion brings the trips-side receiver in orbit, and the diagram shows a classic smash concept to that side with a corner route stacking over a flat/hitch combo, while the backside X runs a deep dig that sits behind the underneath zone drops. The HB releases into an angle route out of the backfield, working from the strong side back across the formation as a checkdown and man beater against linebackers. Primary read starts with the corner-flat smash combo to attack the deep quarter/flat defenders, then works back to the HB angle route as the safety valve if the corner and flat are taken away.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat defender at the snap, if he sinks with the corner route the hitch underneath opens up, if he sits on the hitch the corner route wins over the top. Key the middle linebacker depth pre-snap, shallow depth suggests he can carry the HB angle route in man coverage, so look to attack him with the angle route creating separation on the break. Identify single-high versus two-high safety shells before the snap, single high safety alignments leave the corner route more vulnerable to a robber or hole defender sitting underneath. Post-snap, track any user-controlled defender flying toward the trips side motion, this often signals a jump on the smash concept and opens up the backside deep dig or HB angle as counters. Beware disguised Cover 3 rotations, the flat defender can widen late and undercut the corner route, so recognize the rotation and be ready to check down to the HB angle quickly.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense is playing man or zone, if the motion man is followed across the formation you know it is man coverage and the HB angle route becomes a lethal option against a trailing linebacker.
Against Cover 2 shells, prioritize the corner route on the smash concept since it is designed to split the deep half defender and the underneath flat defender.
This play excels on third and medium to third and long since the deep dig on the backside gives you a full field alternate read if the smash side is taken away by two-deep safeties.
Combine this with Y Stick HB Angle or Stick earlier in a drive to condition the defense to expect quick underneath throws, then hit them with the deeper corner route off the smash concept for a explosive gain.
If the defense shows heavy blitz pre-snap, immediately hot route to the HB angle as your outlet since it releases quickly and gives the QB a safety valve against pressure.
