Route Combos You Need to Know – Part I

Part of being a successful defensive back is knowing what the offense is doing and better yet what they are going to do.  Having this type of knowledge allows you to anticipate plays,  move faster on the field and find yourself in position to make plays more often.

With that in mind,  I am presenting a 3-part series on route combinations that you need to know.  Every move by a receiver on the field relates to a move being made by another wide out.  All the routes run by the offense are related.  Understanding what one receiver’s moves means for another is a big key in getting yourself into position for a potential throw.  To help with that,  knowing some common passing concepts will be of great help to you.

Check out the route combos below to gain the knowledge you need to help defend them when the offense tries to play you for a sucker!

|  Smash  |

Who Runs This?

The route combination is common by spread teams although it can be run by teams in a 2 back set as they either run it to only one side of the formation or release a back to the weak side to create the combo on both sides of the formation.

What is it?

The smash concept typically involves the inside receiver running a corner or ‘7 route’ and the outside receiver running a hitch or “1 route”.  There are some variations to the concept that involves running the inside receiver to the flat and the outside receiver running the corner route after making a move to the post.

Where do they run it?

This route combination can be run anywhere on the field but typically it is run out in the middle of the field or coming out of the end zone because it requires space for it to be effective.

When do they run it?

Typically run on first down as it has an easy completion read with the hitch built into it.  Also a good 2nd and long play in hopes of getting the corner to bite and gain big yardage and if not an easy completion with the chance of yards after the catch.  A good play to run at midfield when trying to get into field goal position during a 2 minute situation.

How to Spot it?

There aren’t a lot of tells pre-snap on the Smash other than it is typically run from a 2 x 2 formation (2 receivers on each side).  One way you can tell is if the offense has a TE split out or a slower wide receiver inside away from the formation and he’s on the line.  They are cheating in alignment to get him deep faster to make the combination work.

Why do they run it?

The smash concept presents a typical situation that offenses strive for and that is to pick a defender and put him in conflict.  In this case,  that defender is the cornerback.  The offense is looking to ‘high / low” the cornerback by flashing a route in front of him while simultaneously running a route behind him.  The hope is that the cornerback bites on the short route and the corner route is left open behind him.  However,  should the cornerback retreat to the corner route right away,  the hitch could be open if the defense is not sound in their movements.  This combo was designed to attack cover 2 but also works well against quarters or any split field coverage (2 safeties on the hash).

How to Defend

Being very disciplined in your zone coverage helps defend this route.  This means as a corner back,  call out the dig route to get help from your linebacker and retreating to the 7 route gets both routes covered.  For safeties if you don’t have a threat up the middle of the field right away,  weave off of the hash when you realize #1 is not pushing up the field.  It will help you get to the 7 route sooner.  Schematically,  teaching your LBs to run to the hitch when they get a ‘China’ call from the cornerback helps a lot.  Also,  lining up looking like it’s going to be Cover 2 but running 2 man gets defenders in the right spot to disrupt the execution of this concept.

|  LEVELS  |

Who Runs It?

Levels is run by spread teams.  Because of the formation and personnel that is required to run this set,  you will most often find it run by teams that like 4 and 5 wide receiver sets.

What is It?

Levels is a play on the smash concept by using 3 wide receivers to one side. the two outside receivers will run in routes and the inner most receiver in the set (#3) will most often run a corner route behind the two in routes.  A variation of this concept will have (#3) run a deep dig route.

Where Do They Run It?

The most common place you will see this concept run with the corner route is in the red zone or inside the 10 yard line.  The dig route variation of this concept is most often used out in the field once the offense passes their own 25 yard line.

When Do They Run It?

The variation involving the corner route by #3 will be run in obvious passing downs in the red zone as they need to get in the end zone and with limited space in that area they can create some with this combo.  You may also get it on first down in the red zone.

The dig variation is typically a 3rd down play in which 8-12 yards are needed for the first down.

How to Spot It

Be on high alert when the #3 receiver is on the ball especially in the situations I described above.  Be on extra high alert if #3 is a tight end or big body down in the red zone in a passing situation.  This combination whether the corner or the dig variation works best when # 3 is a big body.

Why Do They Run It?

The levels concept with the corner variation looks to take advantage of man coverage in the red zone.  Pairing a big body on a safety type with so much room outside to run the corner route gives the offense an advantage.  Putting a smaller wide receiver at # 3 on a slower safety type also gives an advantage to the offense.  Out in the field with the dig variation,  the levels concept is looking to flash receivers in front of the underneath defenders in hopes that they bite and open up a window for the dig route in behind it.  It can be very effective in occupying underneath defenders.

How to Defend

Down in the red zone playing outside leverage helps defend the corner route.  Also pressing # 3 at the line of scrimmage or playing hard catch technique makes it tougher and delays the route getting to the corner which could throw off the QB’s timing.  Schematically,  showing man pressure and then dropping to cover 3 would put the corner in the position to defend the 7 route.  Versus the dig varation,  running 1 Robber puts a safety in the hole to rob the deep dig route.

Example

Quincy Wilson (NYG) interception covering #3 vs. Levels Pass Concept

|  MESH  |

Who Runs It?

Typically run by spread teams as it was invented for this type of offense.  It works best with 4 wide receivers in the route and with a quarterback in shotgun.

What is It?

The combo involves two inside receivers running across the field and passing as close as possible to each other in the center of the field without actually running into each other.

Where do they run it?

This route combo is typically run out in the field where there is space to keep underneath defenders in zone away from the typically shallow crossing routes or to have room to run after catching the ball versus man coverage.

When Do they Run It?

The mesh concept is a big 3rd down play for offenses.  Offenses are looking for man coverage when running this concept in hopes of getting a big play out of it.  Many defenses run man coverage on 3rd down and thus,  it is a typical 3rd down play.

How to Spot it?

The best way to be alerted by this combo is with reduced splits by the two inside receivers and nasty sets (all the WRs lined up tight).  The wide receivers get in tighter splits to make the mesh happen in the middle of the field as soon as possible.

Why Do They Run It?

Quite simply,  this route combination is run to beat press man coverage primarily.  Against a team that is tough to get vertical on because of good press man coverage,  the mesh concept works well.  Running this concept from a nasty set vs. teams that play a lot of man coverage can be very effective.  The aim is to cause confusion and also bump defenders off of the man they are covering to get them wide open on their route.

How to Defend

Teaching cornerbacks to trail directly behind crossing WRs instead of running underneath or over the top of them prevents them from getting rubbed off of the route.  Schematically,  showing man coverage and pressure pre-snap then dropping defenders in the hook areas with pressure off the edge makes this play more difficult for the offense to execute.

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alleyesdbcamp

Owner at All Eyes DB Camp

Chad Wilson is the founder of All Eyes DB Camp and a former standout defensive back for the Miami Hurricanes. After an elite collegiate career, Wilson spent a season with the Seattle Seahawks before transitioning into coaching. A 3-time Florida state champion defensive coordinator, he has spent over 20 years developing the "All Eyes" blueprint that has produced NFL All-Pros and stars like Xavien Howard, Patrick Surtain II, Tyson Campbell, Minkah Fitzpatrick and more. His coaching system is proven at the highest levels—his own sons, Quincy and Marco Wilson, both excelled as starters in the SEC before being drafted into the NFL.

Chad is the author of "101 DB Tips"—The Ultimate DB Reference Guide. You can find more information on the manual and how to order your copy in the sidebar and footer of this page.

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