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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Kc Smash out of Singleback Y Trips is a classic high low concept built specifically to attack Cover 2 shells, pairing a corner route from the outside receiver with a hitch or flat route underneath from the trips side. The smash concept forces the flat defender to choose between the underneath sit route and the corner route sitting behind him, creating a natural conflict for the cornerback in a two deep shell. Primary read progression starts outside with the corner route against the deep safety leverage, then works down to the hitch or flat route as the checkdown against squatting linebackers or nickel defenders.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify whether the corner is playing outside leverage with a safety over the top, that shell tells you Cover 2 or Cover 4 and signals the smash concept will have a natural window. Watch the flat or curl to flat defender at the snap, if he sinks too deep trying to cover the corner route the underneath hitch is wide open for an easy pitch and catch. If the defense shows single high safety with the corner playing press man, this is a strong indicator of Cover 1 or Cover 3, and you should be wary of a user controlled defender jumping the corner route from a deep third alignment. Beware of Cover 2 Man variations where a linebacker or nickel defender blitzes off the edge, since Kc Smash has minimal built in protection adjustments this can get to the quarterback quickly if you do not slide protection or check the RB into a chip block. On the backside, keep an eye on any safety rotating late presnap, a late safety rotation to the trips side usually means the defense is disguising a Cover 3 buzz to sit on the smash concept and take away the corner throw.
Usage Tips
Diagnose the coverage shell pre-snap by checking safety depth, if you see two deep safeties sitting at 10 to 12 yards this is your green light to fire the corner route immediately off the snap.
Use motion or a quick glance at the flat defender post snap to decide whether to throw the hitch or attack the corner, if the corner sinks with the deep route the underneath sit becomes the easy completion.
This play struggles against Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells because the deep third or deep quarter defender can sit on the corner route, so check your playbook and be ready to audible into Four Verticals or PA Zone Shot if you see single high safety rotation.
Best called on second and medium to third and short situations where the defense is more likely to sit in zone rather than bring pressure.
Pair this call with Stick or Curls Combo earlier in a series to condition the defense into thinking you are staying underneath, then hit Kc Smash to punish squatting corners once they start jumping the shorter routes.
