IMO, smoke routes are better run from our "base formation", or the opposite side of the trips formation. You're not crowding space for the WR to move. If you're in trips, you bring 2 extra bodies, and 2 extra defenders to the WR's space and it gives him less room to maneuver. Our smoke routes aren't set up like Denver's (really a screen pass) where they're in bunch formation and guys are acting like blockers. Our smoke routes are designed for the WR to take on his defender 1v1, and if our WR can get by his man they can get a chunks of yardage if not break it open for a TD.
Smoke routes are perfect for bigger WRs that are explosive in short spaces. We've run it with Summers a few times, and he'll get a decent "cheap" gain...but Demaryius and Smelter are the prototypical WRs for this play. Both could stiff arm the DB to the ground and were quick enough to erase angles from the shallow defenders. All they had to beat were the safeties, and by that time they've gained 20+ yards.
You've also got to look at the CB and what leverage they're playing. If a CB is playing with outside leverage and lining up 10+ yards off the ball, perfect time for this play. If they're playing inside leverage and playing closer to the WR, not a very good time to do it. I think we need our WRs to show that they can beat them deep so they respect them more and are playing off them. Demaryius and Smelter proved that over time, the guys we have now have not.
I agree completely with what you are saying concerning smoke routes to our WRs.
What I am trying to figure out is whether or not running a similar concept with the aback in the slot when we are in trips would work. Not necessarily as a called play, but a hot read for JT if the lb/s is 8-10 yards off the LOS. Is there a reason this would not work or doesn't make sense?
I went back to Longest's thread and took a screen capture of one of the times we lined up like that formation. Turns out the lb/s is closer than I thought based on memory, but I still think the play will work. I will try to post the picture (never tried before) and explain my thought process.
My thought here would be to have the WR crack the S and the aback to get out on the OLB (who may or may not have an impact on the play anyways). That would leave the aback in the slot with a one on one matchup with the CB who could possibly get caught up in the block if he's got man responsibilities.
At the snap, JT turns and fires the ball to the aback who has either squared up to him or opened up his right hip and started moving laterally to give himself some momentum. At that point, if the WR does his job, he only has to beat the CB and has a lot of room to do so.
It may not work, but you could see all the open field if he happens to make the CB miss. I would think 3-5 yards at a minimum unless the WR completely misses his block. I'm a baseball player though and not an OC. This is just something that popped in my head during the game and has been a thought I've had in the past as well. Someone with a better football mind tell me why this wouldn't work or if it has some potential of being successful.
You won't hurt my feelings if you tell me I'm an idiot. If you do that I would prefer you at least tell me why I'm an idiot though...haha
