Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Rollout Smash out of Strong I Twins Over is a play-action rollout pass built off the smash concept, using naked or half-roll action to buy the quarterback time outside the pocket. The diagram shows a deep corner route breaking outside up top paired with a short hitch or curl underneath from the flanker to the flat, creating the classic high low smash read on one side of the field. This is a Cover 2 beater by design, since the deep corner route stretches the outside half safety while the underneath hitch settles in front of the cornerback, forcing the corner defender to choose between the two threats. Primary read progression starts with the deep corner route off the rollout, then works down to the underneath flat route if the corner squats or the safety rotates over the top.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and alignment since a clear two high shell signals Cover 2 or Cover 4, both of which this smash concept is designed to attack on the rollout side. Watch the flat defender and cornerback relationship at the snap, if the corner sinks deep to cover the corner route the underneath hitch will be open in the flat for an easy completion. If the defense shows Cover 3 or rolls a safety down into the rollout side flat, the deep corner route becomes tougher to complete and you should expect the quarterback to check down immediately. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is vulnerable to the corner route beating a trailing cornerback, but disciplined zone defenders who stay patient in their landmarks can take away both levels of the smash concept. Watch for user controlled defenders lurking in the rollout lane or jumping the flat route, since a smart user player can sit on the underneath route and bait the quarterback into a turnover on the rollout.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing a two high shell before the snap since this play is designed to punish Cover 2 and other split safety looks. Roll to the side with the corner route first and let the play action fake hold the underneath linebackers before you start your rollout read. If the corner defender jumps the deep route, come back down to the flat hitch quickly since the rollout window closes fast against pressure. Use this play in a sequence with PA Verticals to condition the defense to respect play action deep, then hit Rollout Smash when you see safeties creeping up expecting run support. Best called on second and medium or third and short to medium where defenses are more likely to sit in zone shells instead of bringing exotic pressure. Avoid calling this against heavy blitz packages since the rollout action takes time to develop and leaves you exposed to edge pressure if the offensive line does not seal the rollout side.
