Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Slants out of Pro Far (21 personnel) sends both outside receivers on quick slant routes crossing toward the middle of the field, with the left side receiver working an inside slant that settles behind the underneath traffic while the right side receiver runs a deeper crossing slant into the void vacated on the opposite side. The inside slot defender runs a short flat route underneath, giving the quarterback a three level stretch on one half of the field. This is a classic man beater built on quick separation and rub potential, with the primary read starting on the near side slant and progressing to the crossing slant if the underneath defender jumps the first route.
Defensive Reads
Press man coverage on the outside receivers is the biggest green light, since the slant angle beats outside leverage instantly off the snap. Watch the middle linebacker depth pre-snap, if he is shallow and sitting in the throwing lane he can undercut the crossing slant and bait an interception. Cover 3 with a hard sink from the middle linebacker takes away the deep crossing route, forcing the quarterback to check down to the flat route early. Post-snap, key any user-controlled defender flashing across the middle, that lurk threat is designed to jump the slant window and should force an immediate progression to the flat. Blitz packages with a nano blitz up the middle can beat this play before routes develop, so identify overloaded fronts pre-snap and consider a hot route adjustment on the flat route to give the quarterback a faster outlet.
Usage Tips
Fire this play against man coverage looks where corners are pressed or playing tight outside technique, since the slants create instant separation off the break.
Check the pre-snap alignment of the slot defender, if he is sitting inside expecting the flat route, work the deeper crossing slant on the backside immediately.
Use hot routes to convert the flat route into a shallow drag if you see zone drops with linebackers sitting at five yards, this keeps the underneath route alive against cover 2 or cover 3 shells.
Pair this play with HB Dive or FB Dive Weak in your play-calling sequence to draw linebackers into run fits, then dial up Slants to attack the vacated throwing lanes on early downs.
Best called on third and short to third and medium distances where the quick timing throws convert first downs before pressure arrives.
