LNBS: Altering the Smash Concept

[Sorter]

Okay guys, here's another football philosophy/play thread. The Smash concept (a staple in every offense to a degree) is a wonderful play call that has the inside receiver run a corner route while the inside receiver typically runs a hitch, curl, or occasionally a jerk route working back to the inside. If run with a trips or 2 Wr and a TE on the same side of the formation, the TE or furthest inside receiver will typically run a go down the seam or a post, thus requiring the safety to choose who he's going to help, typically freeing the corner route and enabling him a look with no safety help over the top.









The problem with this route comes when teams play quarters, Cover 3, or cover 6 primarily IMO, which enables the far side corner to play off and then possibly jump the corner route.



Cover 6:


Now, my question to my fellow planeteers is, knowing that several teams primarily operate out of a cover 3, cover 2, quarters and cover 6 look on early downs, why wouldn't you have your furthest receiver (X) run a go(9) route to take the corner and possibly safety with him down the deep right part of the field, and then have your inside receiver run his corner and break once the X has gotten past him (depth to ensure the corner or safety playing zone doesn't jump the route). You could even make this more difficult on opposing safeties by having your TE or an even further inside receiver run an option route down the seam, breaking on a post or dig if MOFO or continuing down the seam if not.

Now, some problems that could potentially arise are if a LB gets a great deep drop and doesn't drop to the flat. However, the corner route should provide enough depth to drop the ball in over him. You also run the risk of having limited check downs, reduced protection, and requiring a deep drop. Additionally, it isn't an easy throw.

That being said, altering the Smash concept as such seems to be a good beater of most coverages that one is likely to see on early downs.

I know TL;DR but I really would like to get some thoughts on this. It seems like a fairly simple concept that hasn't been incorporated with a great deal of frequency (I know I've seen GB, NYG, and Dallas run this exact concept as I suggested but it doesn't seem to be popular even at the college level, which to me seems a little confusing).

[Simply Red]

I agree.

[nstygma]

it's my go-to play in Blitz

[Tribal Warfare]

It depends on player recognition really, If your WR X is attempting to go deep with the primary CB and Safety it will boil down to gamefilm in which if the defense believes the QB or Receivers ability to break the "feint" to sell the short route so it won't be spied on.

[Ace Gunner]

1) You need a QB with a good arm to hit those corner routes or ya, pic 6

2) Pass rush can foil this play because it takes a second for the safeties to declare

3) This play often results in small gains to the Z

4) If you have a guy like Jamaal Charles plus blocking, you can hit that RB up the middle for a big play. Haley liked doing this.

[KCUnited]

Like to call that route the Ol Diggity Dog Doo Dad. /Gruden

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Everytime this gets called Cassel goes "Omaha, Omaha!!!" and checks out of it.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

I heard Brady screaming "OMAHA! OMAHA!" and about fell out of my chair.

[loochy]

Yeah, but does it work against FG Block Middle?

[Easy 6]

I dont understand why they wont use Charles on deep middle routes like that, he has made some outstanding deep catches before... he's a 100% matchup nightmare for any NFL backer, safety and most corners.

Instead he gets the five yard curls and flats... meanwhile, dumboll furiously tries to find ways to hit mccluster**** deep.

GAH!

[Sorter]

Originally Posted by scott free

I dont understand why they wont use Charles on deep middle routes like that, he has made some outstanding deep catches before... he's a 100% matchup nightmare for any NFL backer, safety and most corners.

Instead he gets the five yard curls and flats... meanwhile, dumboll furiously tries to find ways to hit mccluster**** deep.

GAH!

Imagine Jaamal playing like Sproles with a real QB...

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by Sorter

Imagine Jaamal playing like Sproles with a real QB...

Yup, if sproles or even a bowling ball like ray rice can have big success catching balls down the field... then certainly Charles can do it.

Dumboll is the least imaginative mfer EVER, he makes solari and muir look like Ascended Masters.

[Bowser]

To state the obvious, Daboll is likely the ONLY coordinator that agreed to take the gig with Cassel being his starting QB. Certainly the only guy from the "Cleveland Tree".

And count me as one of those that think we could get so much more out of Charles in the passing attack. Hell, just run a ****ing wheel route with Charles from time to time.

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

I heard Brady screaming "OMAHA! OMAHA!" and about fell out of my chair.

Brees does it too. It just means to speed up the snap and to cancel any motion or shifts, etc. It's not an audible.

[Dayze]

yeah but when you yell OMAHA OMAHA and immediately afterwards,...each time. it doesn't do the OL any favors.
If it's for a sped up snap count, then the coaches need to get the MF plays in quicker.