Playbooks
1 Double Slot out of the Over G 4-2-5 Big Nickel set is a passing play built around dual slot receiver releases attacking the middle of the field with option routes underneath and a vertical shot on the outside. The blocking scheme is a standard five man protection designed to hold up long enough for the double slot combo to work in-between the safeties and linebackers, making this primarily a zone beater against split safety looks and Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells. Primary progression starts with the inside slot option route working the seam or hook window, then works to the second slot on a crossing or curl route, and finally checks down to the backside outlet if the underneath windows are clogged.
Read the strong safety depth pre-snap, if he is sitting shallow near the box he is likely keying run or jumping the underneath option route, which opens a window for the vertical route behind him. Watch the linebacker spacing at the snap, if both linebackers widen out to cover the double slot release you have a running lane or a backside throw available against light box counts. Identify user-controlled defenders lurking in the middle of the field, a user spy or rat linebacker sitting in the option route window is the biggest threat to this concept and should force you to your outside route or checkdown instead. Against Cover 3 Match or Cover 3 Sky, the single deep safety will often widen to the double slot side, so look for the seam to open up on the backside if the corner sinks into his zone drop late. Man coverage with underneath help, such as Cover 1 Hole, is the toughest look for this concept since the hole defender can rob the inside option route, so be ready to work the outside receiver on a quick separation route instead.
Check the pre-snap safety alignment first, if both safeties are deep and rotated evenly you are likely facing Cover 2 or Cover 4 and the double slot option routes will have soft grass to settle into.
Use motion on one of the slot receivers to identify man versus zone coverage before the snap, if the defender follows across the formation you know you are getting man coverage and should prioritize the option route with the sit and go adjustment.
This play pairs well with Cover 6 Willie and Cover 4 Quarters as complementary calls since the option routes force zone defenders to declare, giving you a built in answer if the defense sits on the slot routes on obvious passing downs.
On third and medium to third and long, hot route the outside receiver into a deep comeback or post to punish aggressive underneath zone drops that crowd the double slot concept.
Sequence this play after running 1 Double WR1 or 1 Double WR2 earlier in the game so linebackers start cheating toward the slot releases, then hit the backside checkdown or a play-action shot off the same look to capitalize on overreaction.