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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Smash out of Singleback Doubles is a classic Cover 2 beater built on a two-level stretch to one side of the field, pairing a hard corner route from the outside receiver with a hitch or flat route from the inside receiver, while the backside runs a complementary route to hold safety help. This is a pass play designed to attack the seam between the cornerback and safety in a two-deep shell, forcing the flat defender to choose between the underneath route and the corner route sitting behind him. The primary read starts with the smash concept side: check the flat defender's depth first, then work vertically to the corner route if he sits low, or hit the underneath hitch if he bails deep with the corner.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, look for two safeties split deep and corners playing off man or zone leverage, which signals Cover 2 or Cover 4 and sets up the smash concept perfectly. Post-snap, key the flat or hook defender's drop, if he sinks under the corner route the sit route underneath will be open, if he stays flat the corner route has a window behind him. Watch for a user controlled safety rotating late to double the corner route, this is a common defensive counter and means you should already be looking to the backside route or checkdown. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender squatting on the sit route can take away the short option, so be ready to layer the corner route with more air under it against this look. Man coverage with a blitz behind it is the biggest threat to this play since the corner route takes time to develop, so identify blitz indicators like walked up linebackers or safety cheating into the box before the snap and be ready to get the ball out fast.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing a two-deep shell before the snap since Smash is purpose built to exploit Cover 2 and Cover 4 corner alignment.
If the corner is playing hard outside leverage, hot route the underneath receiver to a quick out or speed out to beat aggressive zone corners jumping the corner route.
Use this play on second and medium to second and long, since the corner route needs time to develop and the sit route underneath gives you a checkdown against a blitz.
Sequence this with Fade Smash or Fade Out earlier in a series so the defense respects the corner route, then come back with Smash to freeze the flat defender who starts cheating toward the sit route.
Against user linebackers dropping into passing lanes, drag your eyes to the backside route since a well timed user lurk can bait you into a bad throw on the primary side.
