Playbooks

Slant Zone 2

Dime·2-3-6·Big Dime 4-1-6

Cover 2 Zone Line Slant Zone Coverage

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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

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Quick Reference

FormationDime

Set2-3-6

Personnel

Big Dime 4-1-62 EDGE2 DTMIKE3 CBFS2 SS

In 5 playbooks

Franchise Defense QB ContainDefense Superstar Blitz DefenseDefense Superstar Man DefenseDefense Superstar Zone DefenseDefense MUT KO Defensive Mastermind DefenseDefense

Breakdown

Slant Zone 2 is a defensive play out of the Dime 2-3-6 set using Big Dime 4-1-6 personnel, built as a Cover 2 zone beater with a line slant built into the front. The front four slants to one side to create fast interior pressure and clog run lanes while the two deep safeties hold the deep halves and the underneath defenders sink into their zone drops. Primary read progression for the defense starts with the play side flat defender jumping short hitches and slants, then working to the underneath curl or hook defenders to rob crossing routes, and finally trusting the deep safeties to eliminate anything over the top.

Defensive Reads

Watch for two high safeties pre-snap from the offense, which usually signals they expect Cover 2 and will attack the flat or throw hitches and slants underneath. Post-snap, key the running back for quick releases into the flat since this is the primary soft spot in a two deep shell if your corner does not jump the route fast enough. If the offense runs four verticals, trust your deep safeties to stay on top and force the underneath defenders to rally to any seam breaks since the deep middle is naturally weaker in this coverage. Watch out for smash concepts to the closed side, since a corner route over the flat defender combined with a hard out route can stress the underneath zone before your safety rotates over. Man beater route combos with quick option or shallow drag concepts can exploit the line slant if your linebacker is late diagnosing pass and gets pulled toward the box on run action.

Usage Tips

Call this on early downs when you expect a run heavy personnel package since the line slant helps close gaps quickly against inside zone and gap schemes.

Pre-snap, identify which direction the offensive line is likely to slide protection and set your slant to attack the weak side guard or tackle for a quicker pressure.

Use this in sequence with Cover 2 Man or Cover 2 Invert from the same set to disguise your shell, since all three start from a similar Dime alignment and confuse the quarterback's presnap coverage read.

Hot route your flat defenders to sit slightly wider if you see stack or bunch formations trying to flood the flat with two receivers.

Best used on second and long or third and medium since the deep half safeties limit explosive plays while the slant creates negative plays on any hesitation from the quarterback.